James Howe, an American author recognized for his contributions to juvenile and young adult literature, was born in Oneida, New York on August 2, 1946. He is the writer of How the Ewoks Saved the Trees: An Old Ewok Legend.
Around the age of nine or ten, Howe demonstrated his early interest in writing by creating a play inspired by the comic strip "Blondie". He also authored various short stories and self-published newspapers, with "the Gory Gazette," created for his Vampire Legion club, holding a special place. While studying theater at Boston University, Howe continued writing plays. He then relocated to New York City, aiming for a career as an actor and model, while also taking on roles as a play director and a literary agent.
In the mid-1970s, Howe's wife, Deborah, played a pivotal role in his literary journey by encouraging him to develop a children's story rooted in the Dracula movies of that era. Together, they conceived Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery, a tale centered around a pet rabbit suspected of vampirism. This book achieved significant acclaim, earning over ten Children's Choice awards, including the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award and the Nene Award, and eventually giving rise to a series. Tragically, Deborah succumbed to cancer shortly after the publication of Bunnicula, which led to the creation of The Hospital Book.
Howe dedicated himself to full-time writing in 1981. Beyond the Bunnicula series, his body of work encompasses picture books, children's novels, nonfiction works, adaptations of classic stories, and screenplays for both movies and television. More recently, he introduced his initial young adult novels, The Watcher and The Misfits. The Misfits served as the wellspring of inspiration for GLSEN's annual. Following the loss of his first wife, Howe remarried and had a daughter named Zoey, but their marriage eventually ended in divorce.
In 2007, James Howe was honored with The E.B. White Read Aloud Award for Picture Books for his book Houndsley and Catina, which featured illustrations by Marie-Louise Gay and was published by Candlewick Press.