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Diana Noonan

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 for eight years was editor of the School Journal for older readers. She also writes for adults. She has received numerous awards for her work.

Diana-Noonan-h&s-2022-web

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)
  • Half My Life (OneTree 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
  • 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 1997 for 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 Zealand Kids’ 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
  • Awarded the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal 2022 for lifetime achivement and contribution to  literature for children and young adults inAotearoa New Zealand

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Storylines Trust Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki and Friends of Storylines Te Pou o Te Whare Waituhi Tamariki together form New Zealand’s only national organisation working year-round to promote New Zealand children’s and young adult literature through activities that include a major national Story Tour to schools, early childhood centres and communities, and awards for writers, illustrators and those who work in the area of New Zealand children’s literature

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