Quick Facts
Biography
Diana Noonan (born 7 January 1960) is a New Zealand children's author. In 2022 she was awarded the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for her outstanding contributions to New Zealand literature for young people.
Biography
Noonan was born in Dunedin and attended Waihola Primary School and Tokomairiro High School. She completed a degree in English at the University of Otago in 1980. She completed a teaching diploma the following year and began her career as a teacher. She taught in secondary schools for four years then became a full-time writer. Noonan was Writer in Residence at the Dunedin College of Education in 1993, and was the editor of the New Zealand School Journal for eight years.
Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake Noonan wrote a children's picture book, Quaky Cat, about a cat's experience of the earthquakes. She donated all royalties to the Christchurch earthquake appeal, raising over $150,000. She and the book's illustrator Gavin Bishop received the North West Christchurch Award 2012 in appreciation of her donation.
Awards and recognition
| Year | Award | Result | Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal | Winner | ||
| 2014 | LIANZA Russell Clark Award | Finalist | The Teddy Bear's Promise | |
| 2011 | LIANZA Russell Clark Award | Finalist | Quaky Cat | |
| 2011 | LIANZA Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award | Finalist | The Tui New Zealand Kids' Garden | |
| 2003 | LIANZA Russell Clark Award | Finalist | Auntie Rosie and the Rabbit | |
| 2003 | LIANZA Russell Clark Award | Finalist | The Best-Dressed Bear | |
| 2003 | New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults – Picture Book Award | Finalist | Auntie Rosie and the Rabbit | |
| 1998 | LIANZA Elsie Locke Non-Fiction Award | Co-winner | The Know, Sow and Grow Kids' Book of Plants | |
| 1997 | New Zealand Library and Information Association Award for Non-fiction | Winner | I Spy Wildlife | |
| 1997 | New Zealand Library and Information Association Award for Non-fiction | Finalist | The Rocky Shore | |
| 1997 | New Zealand Library and Information Association Award for Non-fiction | Finalist | The Garden | |
| 1996 | Australian Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature | Finalist | Hercules | |
| 1995 | Aim Children's Book Award for Best Picture Book | Winner | The Best Loved Bear | |
| 1994 | Aim Children's Book Award for Best Junior Fiction | Winner | A Dolphin in the Bay | |
| 1994 | New Zealand Library Association Esther Glen Award | Finalist | A Dolphin in the Bay | |
| 1991 | New Zealand Library Association Esther Glen Award | Finalist | The Silent People |