Egger-Bovet, Howard W. 1956-

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EGGER-BOVET, Howard W. 1956-

PERSONAL: Born January 6, 1956, in New Haven, CT; son of Robert (a railroad worker) and Rubin (a homemaker) Egger; married Diane Bovet (an art teacher); children: Nicholas, Conner. Hobbies and other interests: Playing the saxophone, basketball.

ADDRESSES: Home—165 France St., Sonoma, CA 95476. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Author of children's nonfiction.

WRITINGS:

"BROWN PAPER SCHOOL USKIDS HISTORY" SERIES

(With Marlene Smith-Baranzini) Book of the AmericanRevolution, illustrated by Bill Sanchez, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1994.

(With Marlene Smith-Baranzini) Book of the AmericanIndians, illustrated by T. Taylor Bruce, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1994.

(With Marlene Smith-Baranzini) Book of the NewAmerican Nation, illustrated by T. Taylor Bruce, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1995.

(With Marlene Smith-Baranzini) Book of the AmericanColonies, illustrated by D. J. Simison, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1996.

(With Marlene Smith-Baranzini) Book of the AmericanCivil War, illustrated by D. J. Simison, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 1998.

Also author of American Colonies/American Revolution (three-part video set), directed by Bert Salzman.

ADAPTATIONS: Egger-Bovet produced radio programs based on his contributions to the "Brown Paper School USKids History" series, which were broadcast on WNYE, Brooklyn, NY, 2003.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A U.S. Civil War video.

SIDELIGHTS: In his contributions to Little, Brown's "Brown Paper School USKids History" series for middle-grade students, Howard Egger-Bovet and coauthor Marlene Smith-Baranzini provide children with an "imaginative introduction to American History," stated Candace Smith in a review of Book of the American Colonies for Booklist. Throughout their collection of history books for children, Egger-Bovet and Baranzini utilize relevant crafts, games, and other child-centered activities designed to "enliven the history lesson" included in the book's text, according to Karen Hutt in Booklist, although Hutt added that the authors' "busy format" might prove "distracting" to some readers. The series' unconventional lessons are both short and fast-paced, but sufficient to "whet the appetite without being overwhelming," added a Publishers Weekly contributor in a review of Book of the American Indians. The Publishers Weekly critic also praised the authors' inclusion of comprehensive appendices which channel interested students into areas where more information may be obtained.

On the Time Warner Web site, Egger-Bovet stated: "Nonfiction is a story of human doings. And within this genre history is a story forever simmering in a crock pot, forever softening itself revealing more and more detailed flavors to be savored."

Egger-Bovet told CA: "Writing started as a way to escape, to close the door on the world out there. It was a private matter. This private matter turned public when my sister, Madelene, and I started producing, as kids, greeting cards for birthday cards, anniversary cards, etc. We formed the HowMad Co.

"What has and continues to influence my work are publishing mentors like James Robertson, the producer of the 'USKids History' series. Robertson forced me to see the flaws in my work, to write more concisely, to be direct with words. I believe anyone who wants to learn to write better should set themselves a 'word count.' A word count forces the writer to produce an article, story that can be no longer than a certain length. This restriction forces you to grapple with what words are necessary and what words can be tossed aside. The end result is a written work that is hopefully clear and worth reading.

"It is my hope that the books I have written will allow children and adults to see that history is a story about all of us and that the issues, the emotions of the past are relevant to our present lives."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, August, 1995, Karen Hutt, review of Book of the New American Nation, p. 1945; October 1, 1994, Karen Hutt, reviews of Book of the American Revolution and Book of the American Indians, p. 321; February 1, 2002, Candace Smith, review of American Colonies/American Revolution, p. 952.

New York Times Book Review, November 13, 1994, Martha Saxton, review of "Brown Paper School USKids History" series, p. 32.

Publishers Weekly, May 2, 1994, review of Book of the American Indians and Book of the American Revolution, p. 321.

School Library Journal, September, 1994, Beth Tegart, review of Book of the American Revolution and Book of the American Indians, p. 236; August, 1995, David A. Linsey, review of Book of the New American Nation, p. 150; August, 1996, Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, review of Book of the American Colonies, p. 151; December, 1998, Starr E. Smith, review of Book of the American Civil War, p. 134; November, 2001, Linda R. Skeele, review of American Colonies/American Revolution, p. 73.