
Currently living in the Catlins area of south Otago, Diana Noonan has a teaching background and a degree in English from the University of Otago. She has written for children across the range from picture books and novels to non-fiction and educational readers, and was editor of the School Journal for older readers. She also writes for adults. She has received numerous awards for her work.
Selected bibliography:
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The Silent People (McIndoe Publishers 1990).
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Leaving the Snow Country (McIndoe Publishers 1991).
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A Sonnet for the City (McIndoe Publishers 1992).
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The Last Steam Train illustrated by Brent Putze (Ashton Scholastic 1992).
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A Dolphin in the Bay (Omnibus Books 1993).
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Goodbye Toss illustrated by
Keith Olsen (HarperCollins 1993).
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The Whalers' Garden (McIndoe Publishers 1994).
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Kangaroo Bill and the Forest behind the Bay: A Story of Old New Zealand illustrated by
Lyn Kriegler (Reed 1994).
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Hercules illustrated by Margaret Power (Omnibus Books 1996).
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The Field with
Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
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The Garden with
Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
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The Pond with
Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
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The Rocky Shore with
Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
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The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants with
Keith Olsen (Bridge Hill 1997).
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A Whistle from the Blunder (Longacre Press 2000).
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Auntie Rosie & the Rabbit illustrated by
Christine Ross (Scholastic 2002).
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Google Eyes illustrated by
Keith Olsen [Kiwi Bites] (Puffin 2007).
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Dear Toby illustrated by Linda McClelland (Scholastic 2010).
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The Tui New Zealand Kids' Garden (Penguin 2010).
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Treetop Treasure illustrated by Sarah Healey (Pearson 2011).
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Come Down, Golden illustrated by Renée Hault (Pearson 2011).
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Quaky Cat Helps Out (Scholastic NZ 2015)
- Women of The Catlins, life in the deep south, written jointly with Cris Antona (a social documentary Otago, University Press 2016)
- Half My Life (One Tree House 2020)
Awards:
- Winner of the NZ Library Association Esther Glen Award for The Silent People
- Inclusion in the International Youth Library Collection 1992 for Leaving the Snow Country
- Inclusion in the International Youth Library Collection 1994 for the novel A Sonnet for the City
- University of Otago College of Education Children Writer in Residence 1993
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AIM Junior Fiction Award 1994 for A Dolphin in the Bay
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White Ravens List 1994 for A Sonnet for the City
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AIM Picture Book Award 1995 for The Best-loved Bear
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New Zealand Library & Information Non-fiction Award 1997 for The Field
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New Zealand Library & Information Non-fiction Award 1997 Shortlist for The Garden
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New Zealand Post Non-fiction Award 1997 Shortlist for The Garden
- New Zealand Post Non-fiction Award 1997 Shortlist for I Spy: The Rocky Shore
- Winner of the New Zealand Library and Information Non-fiction Award 1997 for I Spy: Wildlife
- New Zealand Post Children’s Book Award 1997 shortlist for I Spy: The Pond
- Recipient of the Wilderness Society of Australia’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature 1997for Hercules
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New Zealand Library & Information Non-fiction Award 1997 Shortlist for The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants
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New Zealand Post Non-fiction Award 1998 Winner for The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants
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Storylines Notable Book Awards 2001 Junior Fiction List for A Whistle from the Blunde
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New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2003 Picture Book Shortlist for Auntie Rose and the Rabbit
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Storylines Notable Book Awards 2003 Picture Books List for Auntie Rose and the Rabbit
- Storylines Notable Books Picture Books list 2004 for The Best-Dressed Bear.
- Booksellers' NZ Premier Bestseller Gold Award 2004 for The Best Loved Bear
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Storylines Notable Book Awards 2011 Picture Books List for Quaky Cat
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Elsie Locke Award 2011 Shortlist for The Tui New Z ealandKids' Garden
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Recipient of the North West Christchurch Award 2012 for services to the community following the 2011 earthquake for Quaky Cat. Donated royalties from this book raised over $150,000 for the Christchurch earthquake appeal.
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Storylines Notable Picture Books List 2014 for The Teddy Bear’s Promise
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LIANZA award shortlist 2014 for The Teddy Bear’s Promise