News of note for readers: April 30, 2026

Catch up quick with the bookish news of the past few days ... or take a deeper dive into each story. Your choice!  

• Scholars from Trinity College Dublin found a lost copy of Caedmon’s Hymn — the earliest surviving poem in the English language — at the National Central Library of Rome; this copy of Bede's nine-line poem dates to between 800 and 830 AD (The Guardian).

• The Roo that accompanied the original Winnie-the-Pooh toy — now on display at the New York York Public Library — was lost long ago, but this past week, Queen Camilla brought a replica to join Pooh and friends (The New York Times).

• Read an excerpt from DéLana R. A. Dameron's next novel, Fairfield County, which comes out June 9 (Literary Hub).

• Rachel Rosenberg highlights five long-loved middle-grade novels that are becoming graphic novels this year (Book Riot).

• Emily Temple shares her must-stream list for May, with adaptations of literature available in TV series or movie format (Literary Hub).

• Learn the design choices behind the newly revealed cover of The Volcano Keeper by Bradley Sides (Electric Literature).