About
Ramona Caponegro is a professor whose work focuses on children’s literature scholarship, publishing history, and questions of equity and representation in youth media. Her research examines how themes of cultural responsibility and social justice are represented in children’s and young adult literature, with particular attention to authentic children’s literature, picture books, early readers, and the evolving history of children’s librarianship and publishing in the United States.
Caponegro’s scholarship also explores the role of children’s book awards in shaping literary culture and recognizing stories that reflect diverse communities. Her work has been published in leading journals including Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, The Lion and the Unicorn, and Children & Libraries.
Her most recent publication, “And the Winner Is … Launching a Mock Ezra Jack Keats Award Program,” appears in Children & Libraries, highlighting her ongoing interest in the intersection of literature, reading communities, and social responsibility. She is also the co-writer of the documentary Tell Me Another Story, which examines the changing landscape of picture books.
Impact Beyond the University
In addition to her research contributions, Caponegro is actively engaged in the national children’s literature community through significant professional service. She chaired the 2026 John Newbery Award Committee. The Newbery Medal is the oldest and most prestigious children’s book award in the United States, and her appointment reflects her leadership and expertise in children’s book evaluation.
She has also chaired the Pura Belpré Award Committee (2019) after previously serving as a member (2015), as well as the Phoenix Picture Book Award Committee, and she was a member of the Randolph Caldecott Award Committee. She is about to begin serving as incoming chair of the Ezra Jack Keats Award Committee, which honors outstanding picture books by early-career authors and illustrators.
A Commitment to Children’s Literature Studies
Through her research, creative work, and professional service, Caponegro advances critical conversations about authenticity, equity, and the power of children’s books to shape social understanding. Her work supports students and scholars in examining children’s literature not only as storytelling, but as a cultural force that reflects and influences society.