Edith Howes (1872–1954) was a New Zealand teacher, writer, and advocate for women's rights. Public information about her is limited, and the details of her life are not widely known, but her surviving works show that she was mainly active in children's literature and popular science writing. Two of her works are included here: the fairy-tale collection Wonderwings and other Fairy Stories and The Sun's Babies. The former builds short stories suited to young readers through fantasy and imagination, while the latter leans toward nature and science, seeking to introduce the world to children in a simple and lively way. Her writing is fresh and delicate, skillfully combining literary interest with the beginnings of knowledge, attending to children's reading ability while preserving room for imagination. As a teacher and advocate for women's rights, her writing and her educational concerns echo each other, giving her a place in the development of New Zealand children's books.
