“Hopefully something here or within the covers of my books will make you think, take a risk, or dream a little bigger.” — Shanna Upchurch

Shanna Upchurch is the award-winning author of picture books and middle grade novels that celebrate brave kids, remarkable animals, and big-hearted journeys. Raised in rural Illinois and now based in Texas, Shanna’s stories are inspired by the wonder found just outside our doors. Her book The Honeybee Highway (April 2026), is a celebration of honeybees, agriculture, family, and—above all—kid power in the latest addition to Disney Planet Possible Books.

A winner of the prestigious SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award, Shanna is also a professionally trained speaker who brings energy and humor to every school visit. Her interactive presentations foster a love of science, environmental stewardship, and inquiry-based learning.

Whether presenting to a single classroom or an entire school, Shanna connects easily with students of all ages through engaging storytelling, hands-on activities, and real-world examples. When she’s not visiting schools, she can be found wrangling her five feral kids, tending her honeybees, digging in the garden, or negotiating with the goats who insist on climbing on the car (again).

Shanna's Featured Titles

The Honeybee Highway (Disney Planet Possible)

Disney Hyperion |
Children’s

WATERCRESS gets an ecological twist in this celebration of honeybees, agriculture, family, and—above all—kid power in the latest addition to Disney Planet Possible Books.

An eighteen-wheeler rumbles to life in Florida, loaded with more than four hundred beehives. Destination? The almond orchards of California, where millions of blossoms are waiting.

Seven-year-old Joey J isn’t just along for the ride. She’s got work to do. With Uncle Mike and expert driver José, she races through pit stops to keep the bees from flying away, keeps them cool under the blazing sun, and holds her breath at the final inspection site.

Because Joey J knows one thing for sure: These bees matter. They’re part of an expansive network of commercial honeybees crisscrossing the country to pollinate food for people all over the world.

After four long days, the team arrives at the orchards. As her bees fill the sky, Joey J can’t help but wonder—do they have any idea how important they are?

With the lyricism and family relationships of favorites like WATERCRESS, this stunning debut sheds light on a little-known piece of our world’s food supply and celebrates the magnificent honeybee.

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Take The Honeybee Highway!

It’s a road trip, and everyone’s invited!

Get ready to zoom along with the world’s busiest little travelers—honeybees! In this lively, interactive presentation, students will meet these incredible insects up close: they’ll learn how beekeepers work with these stinging friends, why a queen bee rules the hive, and how tragic it is to be a male honeybee. Students will discover surprising facts, like how honeybees have five eyes and communicate through dancing.

Then, the adventure expands! Kids will see how honeybees and other pollinators—like butterflies, birds, and bats—play a vital role in helping plants grow and keeping our food chain humming. Through storytelling and hands-on thinking, students explore life cycles, habitats, and the interconnections that make ecosystems thrive. Packed with humor and a heavy dose of science-curriculum-relevance, this talk inspires curiosity, respect for the natural world, and a newfound appreciation for the tiny creatures doing some of the planet’s most important work.

Shanna’s Events

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2024 SCBWI Work-in-Progress Award

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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