John Dougherty
@writerpoetjohn.bsky.social
Multi-award winning writer, poet & songwriter. Does terrific school visits. Rep:
@JuliaChurchill at @AMHeathLtd.
@JuliaChurchill at @AMHeathLtd.
I've just noticed that the river site is doing a promo deal on The Bear-Shaped Hole - almost 50% off.
www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Shaped-...
www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Shaped-...
December 9, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I've just noticed that the river site is doing a promo deal on The Bear-Shaped Hole - almost 50% off.
www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Shaped-...
www.amazon.co.uk/Bear-Shaped-...
Thanks so much for sharing, and for all the good work you do. @thomasdocherty.bsky.social
📚 Continuing this year’s BCAW focus on books, we’re sharing a message from author John Dougherty.
💛 His book, A Hare-Shaped Hole, beautifully explores emotional expression and continuing bonds for bereaved children.
👉 More reads: childhoodbereavement.ie/bookshelf
#ChildrenGrieveToo #BCAW2025
💛 His book, A Hare-Shaped Hole, beautifully explores emotional expression and continuing bonds for bereaved children.
👉 More reads: childhoodbereavement.ie/bookshelf
#ChildrenGrieveToo #BCAW2025
November 18, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Thanks so much for sharing, and for all the good work you do. @thomasdocherty.bsky.social
Reposted by John Dougherty
This was excellent (even though I almost couldn't make out the words toward the end through the tears welling up). An extraordinarily beautiful book about grief and rememberance.
@writerpoetjohn.bsky.social @thomasdocherty.bsky.social
@writerpoetjohn.bsky.social @thomasdocherty.bsky.social
August 30, 2025 at 1:45 AM
This was excellent (even though I almost couldn't make out the words toward the end through the tears welling up). An extraordinarily beautiful book about grief and rememberance.
@writerpoetjohn.bsky.social @thomasdocherty.bsky.social
@writerpoetjohn.bsky.social @thomasdocherty.bsky.social
So lovely to get an unexpected Thai edition through the post! @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @quartokids.bsky.social #TheHareShapedHole
November 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
So lovely to get an unexpected Thai edition through the post! @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @quartokids.bsky.social #TheHareShapedHole
Reposted by John Dougherty
For goodness sake how are they not getting this. Artists can’t just steal each other’s ideas, so why should non-artists be allowed to. This is maddening.
May 26, 2025 at 2:56 PM
For goodness sake how are they not getting this. Artists can’t just steal each other’s ideas, so why should non-artists be allowed to. This is maddening.
Very pleased to see The Bear-Shaped Hole chosen as one of @theguardian.com’s best new books for children ❤️ www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
A girl with super strength; anarchic doughnuts on a mission to rule the world; boys in the Blitz; an Igbo YA fantasy and more
www.theguardian.com
May 25, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Very pleased to see The Bear-Shaped Hole chosen as one of @theguardian.com’s best new books for children ❤️ www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
Publication day! #TheBearShapedHole, companion title to #TheHareShapedHole, is out in the world today!
May 8, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Publication day! #TheBearShapedHole, companion title to #TheHareShapedHole, is out in the world today!
In advance of publication this week of #TheBearShapedHole, thanks to @thomasdocherty.bsky.social and @quartokids.bsky.social for my lovely new t-shirt!
May 6, 2025 at 11:56 AM
In advance of publication this week of #TheBearShapedHole, thanks to @thomasdocherty.bsky.social and @quartokids.bsky.social for my lovely new t-shirt!
@robinince.bsky.social Hi, Robin. Hope all's well with you! I have a small request - something both poetry- & science-related, so (I think) right up your street? Can I contact you a bit more privately? John
April 17, 2025 at 12:06 PM
@robinince.bsky.social Hi, Robin. Hope all's well with you! I have a small request - something both poetry- & science-related, so (I think) right up your street? Can I contact you a bit more privately? John
Reposted by John Dougherty
The Bear-Shaped Hole is publishing this May! 🐻✨
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." @jonnybid.bsky.social
"powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure." @smithsmm.bsky.social
By @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social & @thomasdocherty.bsky.social 🩵
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." @jonnybid.bsky.social
"powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure." @smithsmm.bsky.social
By @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social & @thomasdocherty.bsky.social 🩵
April 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The Bear-Shaped Hole is publishing this May! 🐻✨
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." @jonnybid.bsky.social
"powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure." @smithsmm.bsky.social
By @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social & @thomasdocherty.bsky.social 🩵
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." @jonnybid.bsky.social
"powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure." @smithsmm.bsky.social
By @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social & @thomasdocherty.bsky.social 🩵
Reposted by John Dougherty
Absolutely lovely bookpost today
“The Bear-Shaped Hole” by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is a truly wonderful book for supporting young people in preparing for loss. It’s powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure. Beautiful
@quartokids.bsky.social
#PicturebookPage
“The Bear-Shaped Hole” by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is a truly wonderful book for supporting young people in preparing for loss. It’s powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure. Beautiful
@quartokids.bsky.social
#PicturebookPage
April 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Absolutely lovely bookpost today
“The Bear-Shaped Hole” by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is a truly wonderful book for supporting young people in preparing for loss. It’s powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure. Beautiful
@quartokids.bsky.social
#PicturebookPage
“The Bear-Shaped Hole” by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is a truly wonderful book for supporting young people in preparing for loss. It’s powerful, sad and joyous in equal measure. Beautiful
@quartokids.bsky.social
#PicturebookPage
Unboxing video!!!
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." - Jon Biddle
#BearShapedHole #HareShapedHole #kidlit #loss #grief @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." - Jon Biddle
#BearShapedHole #HareShapedHole #kidlit #loss #grief @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social
April 6, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Unboxing video!!!
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." - Jon Biddle
#BearShapedHole #HareShapedHole #kidlit #loss #grief @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social
"The Bear-Shaped Hole is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025." - Jon Biddle
#BearShapedHole #HareShapedHole #kidlit #loss #grief @thomasdocherty.bsky.social @jonnybid.bsky.social
Reposted by John Dougherty
Schools often have differing aims in mind when they book an author visit. But the school I'm visiting virtually on World Book Day this week has asked me to inspire a love of reading. And honestly I think that's absolutely the best use of an author visit. And what I love to do! #kidlituk
March 2, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Schools often have differing aims in mind when they book an author visit. But the school I'm visiting virtually on World Book Day this week has asked me to inspire a love of reading. And honestly I think that's absolutely the best use of an author visit. And what I love to do! #kidlituk
Reposted by John Dougherty
Authors, poets, illustrators and storytellers are happy to visit schools at any time of the year, not just on World Book Day (which is often fully booked months in advance). Celebrate reading on WBD and then arrange an author visit a few weeks later to build on it.
March 1, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Authors, poets, illustrators and storytellers are happy to visit schools at any time of the year, not just on World Book Day (which is often fully booked months in advance). Celebrate reading on WBD and then arrange an author visit a few weeks later to build on it.
Reposted by John Dougherty
Thrilled to have 3 poems in Do Poems Grow On Trees? A brilliant new poetry anthology with so many amazing children’s poets inside. I have a few copies if anyone would like one. Please Dm. Thank you! 💛
February 28, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Thrilled to have 3 poems in Do Poems Grow On Trees? A brilliant new poetry anthology with so many amazing children’s poets inside. I have a few copies if anyone would like one. Please Dm. Thank you! 💛
Look what’s just arrived! I’ve been looking forward to this one! @attielime.bsky.social @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social
February 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Look what’s just arrived! I’ve been looking forward to this one! @attielime.bsky.social @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social
Reposted by John Dougherty
The Bear-Shaped Hole by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025. It's been read by almost every class in my school (Y1-Y6) and has received universal acclaim from pupils and staff. uk.bookshop.org/a/3551/97807...
January 28, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The Bear-Shaped Hole by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social is going to be one of the most important picturebooks of 2025. It's been read by almost every class in my school (Y1-Y6) and has received universal acclaim from pupils and staff. uk.bookshop.org/a/3551/97807...
Reposted by John Dougherty
This beautiful, heartfelt book by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social will be coming out in 2025 💗✨
Another deeply emotional and important book (following on from The Hare-Shaped Hole) which will help to comfort anyone facing the death of a loved one 💜
#thebearshapedhole
Another deeply emotional and important book (following on from The Hare-Shaped Hole) which will help to comfort anyone facing the death of a loved one 💜
#thebearshapedhole
December 18, 2024 at 2:53 PM
This beautiful, heartfelt book by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social will be coming out in 2025 💗✨
Another deeply emotional and important book (following on from The Hare-Shaped Hole) which will help to comfort anyone facing the death of a loved one 💜
#thebearshapedhole
Another deeply emotional and important book (following on from The Hare-Shaped Hole) which will help to comfort anyone facing the death of a loved one 💜
#thebearshapedhole
Reposted by John Dougherty
So proud of our new book The Bear-Shaped Hole by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and myself . I know that this book is going to help so many people, young and old, to talk about and discuss something that can be so hard to put into words. It has been a wonderful experience to work on this book.
December 17, 2024 at 11:20 AM
So proud of our new book The Bear-Shaped Hole by @writerpoetjohn.bsky.social and myself . I know that this book is going to help so many people, young and old, to talk about and discuss something that can be so hard to put into words. It has been a wonderful experience to work on this book.
So lovely to get my first copies of #TheBearShapedHole, by me and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social, to be published by Quarto in March (US, hardback) and May (UK, paperback). #loss #illness #kidlit
December 16, 2024 at 10:47 AM
So lovely to get my first copies of #TheBearShapedHole, by me and @thomasdocherty.bsky.social, to be published by Quarto in March (US, hardback) and May (UK, paperback). #loss #illness #kidlit
Reposted by John Dougherty
Word of the day is ‘librocubicularist’: one who loves nothing better than reading in bed.
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).
November 24, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Word of the day is ‘librocubicularist’: one who loves nothing better than reading in bed.
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).
(Not easy to say, but I’m glad to know it exists).