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:

• The Silent People (McIndoe Publishers 1990).
• Leaving the Snow Country (McIndoe Publishers 1991).
• A Sonnet for the City (McIndoe Publishers 1992).
• The Last Steam Train illustrated by Brent Putze (Ashton Scholastic 1992).
• A Dolphin in the Bay (Omnibus Books 1993).
• Goodbye Toss illustrated by Keith Olsen (HarperCollins 1993).
• The Whalers' Garden (McIndoe Publishers 1994).
• Kangaroo Bill and the Forest behind the Bay: A Story of Old New Zealand illustrated by Lyn Kriegler (Reed 1994).
• The Best-loved Bear illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller (Ashton Scholastic 1994).
• Hercules illustrated by Margaret Power (Omnibus Books 1996).
• The Field with Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
• The Garden with Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
• The Pond with Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
• The Rocky Shore with Nic Bishop [I Spy Wildlife series] (Heinemann Education 1996).
• The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants with Keith Olsen (Bridge Hill 1997).
• A Whistle from the Blunder (Longacre Press 2000).
• Auntie Rosie & the Rabbit illustrated by Christine Ross (Scholastic 2002).
• The Best-dressed Bear illustrated by Elizabeth Fuller (Scholastic 2002).
• Google Eyes illustrated by Keith Olsen [Kiwi Bites] (Puffin 2007).
• Dear Toby illustrated by Linda McClelland (Scholastic 2010).
• The Tui New Zealand Kids' Garden (Penguin 2010).
• Quaky Cat illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Scholastic 2010).
• Treetop Treasure illustrated by Sarah Healey (Pearson 2011).
• Come Down, Golden illustrated by Renée Hault (Pearson 2011).
• 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)

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
• AIM Junior Fiction Award 1994 for A Dolphin in the Bay
• White Ravens List 1994 for A Sonnet for the City
• AIM Picture Book Award 1995 for The Best-loved Bear
• New Zealand Library & Information Non-fiction Award 1997 for The Field
• New Zealand Library & Information Non-fiction Award 1997 Shortlist for The Garden
• 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
• New Zealand Library & Information Non-fiction Award 1997 Shortlist for The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants
• New Zealand Post Non-fiction Award 1998 Winner for The Know, Sow & Grow Kids' Book of Plants
• Storylines Notable Book Awards 2001 Junior Fiction List for A Whistle from the Blunde
• New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2003 Picture Book Shortlist for Auntie Rose and the Rabbit
• 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
• Storylines Notable Book Awards 2011 Picture Books List for Quaky Cat
• Elsie Locke Award 2011 Shortlist for The Tui New Z ealandKids' Garden
• 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.
• Storylines Notable Picture Books List  2014 for The Teddy Bear’s Promise
• LIANZA award shortlist 2014 for The Teddy Bear’s Promise