The Honeybee Highway

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.

Author Biography

Shanna Upchurch lives outside Dallas with a bunch of chickens and children and (of course) honeybees! She’s known around town as the person who will throw on a bee suit, Ghostbuster-style, at any time of day to relocate a swarm or inspect a hive. Her own honeybees are quite spoiled and produce rich, clover honey on account of the fact that Shanna won’t let anyone mow the back pasture. Her deep love for pollinators and the vital role they play in our world shines through in The Honeybee Highway, her picture book debut.

Dagmar Smith is an illustrator who lives in Chicago with her calico cat, Penelope. While she has never actually thrown on a bee suit, she is a conscientious consumer and admires every community garden and biodiverse lawn she stumbles across. She also loves honey. This book stung Dagmar right in the heart: It deepened her gratitude for the food on her plate and for the hidden world of bees. Her work explores themes like family and the simple beauty in everyday life. Learn more at www.DagmarSmithArt.com.