Sagittarius Rising (Maxine Beneba Clarke, illus Jade Goodwin, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing)

Sagittarius Rising, by award-winning poet Maxine Beneba Clarke, is a well-crafted chapter book following Tip and their family’s unpredictable yet lovable dog, Sagittarius Rising. The story moves through a range of everyday moments: Sag’s arrival, his heroic rescue of a child at the local park, his winning the “Most Unusual” and “Most Inspiring” awards at Bring a Pet Week at Tip’s school, and even his unexpected stowaway adventure on the bus to camp. Along the way, Sag even seems to sense that Tip’s mum is pregnant, adding another layer of anticipation to the story.

The emotional resonance strengthens when Tip’s family prepares for the new baby. Tip, Dad and Sagittarius Rising each undergo their own kind of “training”, creating a humorous and affectionate portrayal of a family in transition.

Clarke uses an impressive variety of poetic literary devices – rhyme, rhythm, onomatopoeia and an amazing collection of 2 and 4-line couplets. Jade Goodwin’s illustrations are a wonderful complement. Simple yet detailed sketches align well with the text and provide young readers with both rest points and appropriate visual cues.

With themes of family, love, resilience, the value of friendships and the joy found in the simple things in life, Sagittarius Rising would serve as a strong introduction to poetry in a teaching context. Readers aged 8 and over will enjoy it for its humour, heart and lively storytelling.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Tony Doyle is an educator, teacher and writer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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