Illustrated by Rhian Nest James

Published by Walker Books Australia 2010 and  Candlewick US in 2012

A novel in verse about domino toppling, friendship and childhood illness.

John is obsessed with  toppling dominoes. He spends hours setting up spirals, ramps, patterns and lines of dominoes just to watch them topple. Beginning with a small push in the right direction, everything falls as it is meant to. When John’s friend Dom falls sick  it is John and his friends’ worlds that fall apart. Can they face Dom and support him through this uncomfortable illness? It’s hard for all at first but John and his friends find a way to comfort Dom and laugh with him again.

Available from good bookstores or online here.

(Book Trailer created by Julie Hembree and shared here with permission.)

Teacher’s notes for Toppling are available on the Walker Books website and suggestions for use in the year 6 classroom are here.

 

Sally Murphy Reads Chapter One

Awards

Winner of the Mary Ryan’s Award (Children’s Book) in the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards 2010
Winner of the Children’s Book Category in the WA Premier’s Book Awards, 2010
Shortlisted CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Awards, 2011
Winner CBCA Junior Judges Project (Younger Readers), 2010

 

John and Dom

Illustrated by Rhian Nest James
Published by Walker UK, 2011

Don’t be fooled by the different cover and title – this is actually the same book as Toppling. If you are in the UK, this is the version you will find in bookstores, or online here.

Reviews

This is a book that is now amongst my all-time favorite children’s books and I cannot give it a higher recommendation than that.

(Steven R. McEvoy, Reviewer)