Deborah Howe wrote the children's books Bunnicula

Bunnicula

Bunnicula is a children's book series written by James Howe about a vampire bunny that sucks the juice out of vegetables. It is also the name of the first book in the series, published 1979 .The story is centered on the Monroe family and their pets and is told from the perspective of their dog...

and Teddy Bear's Scrapbook along with her husband James Howe

James Howe

James Howe is the American author of over 80 juvenile and young adult books, including the Bunnicula series, about a vampire rabbit that sucks the juice out of vegetables.-Biography:...

 in the late 1970s. She died of cancer

Cancer

Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

 at age 31 after Bunnicula was published. She graduated from Boston University

Boston University

Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...

 and worked as a theater actress before becoming a writer. She was survived by her parents, her husband James, and her younger brother.

Howe's work won the following awards:

• AL Notable Children's Books,
• CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council),
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (VT)
• Emphasis on Reading Book Award (AL)
• Golden Sower Award (NE)
• Iowa Children's Choice Award
• IRA/CBC Children's Choices
• Land of Enchantment Children's Book Award (NM)
• Nene Award (HI)
• Pacific Northwest Young Reader's Choice Award
  Young Reader's Choice Award
  The Young Reader's Choice Award is an annual book award chosen by students from the Pacific Northwest. It is run by the Pacific Northwest Library Association, and was established in 1940, making it the oldest children's choice award in the U.S. and Canada....
  
  
• Sequoyah Children's Book Award (OK)
• South Carolina Book Award
• Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (FL)