The Bear-Shaped Hole

Gerda and Orlo share a wonderful friendship. Kind and wise, Orlo always has time to listen to, and spend time with, young Gerda, but then things change. Gerda notices that Orlo has become slower and less strong. When she asks him what’s wrong, Orlo explains that he is very ill and is going to die.

Heartbroken, Gerda is filled with anger and runs away, trying to escape her grief and pain. On her return, Orlo offers a reassuring bear hug, validating her feelings and assuring her that she will feel happiness again. They spend time together, creating memories and when Orlo dies, Gerda grieves, but his wisdom has prepared her for the loss.

Deeply poignant, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a wonderful book to support those facing an impending loss. The rhyming text shares the early experiences of Gerda, the bear, who offers comfort to Bertle on the loss of his friend, Hertle, in the story, The Hare-Shaped Hole, written by the same team.

The story sensitively explores Gerda's reaction to the news that Orlo is going to die, validating her feelings at each stage, and offering the perfect starting point for conversations around loss. However, the book is also perfect for sharing with anyone, at any time, as it reminds readers of the importance of valuing time with others, living in the moments we have and creating special memories.

As with The Hare-Shaped Hole, the illustrations play a powerful role in sharing Gerda's story and expressing her feelings. As Gerda flees from Orlo, a spiking, swirl of black trails her; another picture shows this black chaos surrounding her, almost consuming her, brilliantly expressing her feelings in visual form, perhaps helping children to show their emotions in the same way. The love between the two characters is also beautifully captured through their tender looks and joyful memories.

Adults guiding children in this situation might suggest that they capture some of the special memories they create using photographs or drawings in the same way that Gerda and Orlo's are shown in the story. Those familiar with The Hare- Shaped Hole will enjoy spotting some of the characters from that story in the illustrations in this book.

Deeply moving, The Bear-Shaped Hole is a stunning, comforting and much needed book.

40 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 3+

Tissues at the ready because The Bear-Shaped Hole will make you go all misty-eyed at the end. Gerda is a small bear who has a great friendship with Orlo, a bigger bear. They play games, sing songs, have adventures and do all the things together that best friends do but one day Gerda realises that Orlo is not quite as fast or energetic as he used to be. When she asks why he reveals the awful truth...he's dying.

The rest of The Bear-Shaped Hole very honestly depicts the rage, hurt and fear that this news triggers in Gerda. However, it then goes on to show the friends reminiscing about the fun they have had and making new memories, until the inevitable happens and Orlo dies. We see Gerda coming to terms with her new normal and holding tightly to the memories of her best friend, which slowly help to fill the bear-shaped hole he leaves behind.

Good books that help children to process their feelings around illness and death of a loved one are very precious indeed. This is one that will be used by school staff and in homes to help children living through the bereavement process at any stage; whether it is at the start, so that the journey can be be talked about and de-mystified; in the middle, when a child is angry, sad, scared or confused about what is happening; or at the end, when there is a hole in the world where their loved one used to be.

There are many tasks that are inspired by this book for a child to take part in - building or drawing the forest and making notes of memories of their loved one to hang on the trees; or creating a 'rainbow filling' for the 'hole' that is left when a loved one leaves us. Creating a memory box to put representations of those happy memories in; written pieces, drawings, souvenirs etc.

The Bear-Shaped Hole is beautifully written and illustrated and the simple rhyming text helps the words that shape these challenging concepts to  flow more easily. It doesn't offer any ground-breaking solutions as to how to help children deal with grief, but it's another to add to the collection that we all sadly have to have in schools. Highly recommended.

Picture book / Reviewed by Wendy Kelly, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+

If you have not read The Bear-Shaped Hole, this should be the next book you pick up. I have not read such a powerful picture book for a very long time.

This beautifully illustrated, rhyming picture book, tackles the difficult topics of preparing to lose a loved one, and grief. The illustrations depict emotion brilliantly. The language chosen is simple and purposeful and rhythm of the story is calm and sensitive.

This is a must-have book for all families, schools, ELSAs and Learning mentors who support pupils in difficult times. John Dougherty and Thomas Docherty have created magic with this book which will support a huge number of children and adults at their most challenging times. 

Picture book / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+