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).
