Paisano, the Roadrunner

Reach for this book when your child expresses a deep fascination with the natural world or when you want to encourage the quiet virtues of patience and observation. It is an ideal choice for the child who brings home interesting rocks and feathers, or the one who needs a gentle nudge to slow down and notice the small miracles in their own backyard. Through a blend of personal narrative and scientific journaling, the author describes her three year relationship with a family of roadrunners. The book beautifully illustrates themes of trust and mutual respect between humans and wild animals without anthropomorphizing them. It models how to be a quiet witness to nature, documenting life cycles and animal behavior with both a scientist's eye and a poet's heart. For parents, it serves as a wonderful tool to transition children from simple animal stories to more sophisticated narrative nonfiction, fostering a lifelong sense of wonder and environmental stewardship.