Edith Annie Howes MBE (29 August 1872 – 9 July 1954) was a New Zealand teacher, educationalist, and writer of children's literature.

She was born in London, England, one of five children of Cecilia Brown and William Howes, a post office clerk and accountant.

[1] She became known as an educational reformer, pushing for a less institutional learning environment featuring smaller class sizes and quieter, more comfortable classrooms.

[1] For example, in The Cradle Ship (1916) she offered a true account of where babies come from, making the book a minor landmark in sex education for children.

[1] Howe also wrote for adults, including books on education (Tales Out of School; The Great Experiment), plays, and an opera libretto.