Schwartz was born April 4, 1945 to Nathan and Bluma (Rubin) Schwartz. His father was a watchmaker, antique dealer, and jeweler. Schwartz was the eldest of three children and attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He began writing poetry at the age of 20. He was awarded first place honors by the Academy of American Poets in 1969 Gale Literary Databases - Document and his first book of poetry, Vessels, was hailed by poets such as Yehuda Amichai and James Wright Contemporary Jewish-American Dramatists and Poets.

Schwartz's later work in Jewish folklore, fiction, poetry, and children's literature has been recognized by more than forty organizations and literary bodies. He won the Aesop Prize from the American Folklore Society, the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation, and the Sydney Taylor Book Award, among others.

More recently, the author was awarded the 2005 National Jewish Book Award for his reference book Tree of Souls, an extremely comprehensive guide to Jewish midrash, stories expanding upon or explaining Biblical texts. His children's story Before You Were Born was named one of the top ten children's books of 2005 "The East Village Mamele - The Best Children’s Books of the Year - Forward.com" and was given the Koret International Jewish Book Award from the Koret Foundation in 2006. Before You Were Born describes the angel Lailah, who shares all the secrets of life with children while they are still inside the womb Before You Were Born, Howard Schwartz, Book - Barnes & Noble.

Schwartz has been nominated for the National Jewish Book Award six times and has won the award three times. Howard Schwartz

• Diamond Tree: Jewish Tales from Around the World Nominee in category Children's Literature. 1992.
• Next Year in Jerusalem: 3000 Years of Jewish Stories Winner in category Children's Literature. 1996.
• Reimagining the Bible: The Storytelling of the Rabbis Finalist in category Jewish Thought. 1999.
• The Day the Rabbi Disappeared: Jewish Holiday Tales of Magic Winner in category Children's Literature. 2000.
• Invisible Kingdoms: Jewish Tales of Angels, Spirits and Demons Sole finalist in category Children's Literature. 2002-2003.
• Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism Winner in category Reference. 2005.

Schwartz works with oral and written histories as a collector and re-teller of Jewish stories and midrash. In this capacity, he has collected more than a thousand unique tales from around the world in several major print collections.

• Midrashim: Collected Jewish Parables (1976) ISBN 0-903400-18-9
• Elijah’s Violin and Other Jewish Fairy Tales (1983) ISBN 0-19-509200-7
• Miriam’s Tambourine: Jewish Folktales from around the World (1986) ISBN 0-19-282136-9
• Lilith’s Cave: Jewish Tales of the Supernatural (1987) ISBN 0-19-506726-6
• Gabriel’s Palace: Jewish Mystical Tales (1993) ISBN 0-19-509388-7
• Leaves from the Garden of Eden (2008) ISBN 0-19-533565-1