Angela Crocombe has worked at Readings for more than seven years, and is now the manager of our Kids shop. We chat with her about the bookselling trends she’s noticed in recent years, and her favourite part of a working day.

Why did you decide to work in books?

Books have always been my passion. Despite this, I never really believed it was possible to work with them every day. But after doing degrees in economics and politics (which were completely irrelevant to my career) I was lucky to secure my first job in the industry straight out of university as a sales representative for Cambridge University Press. I’ve had various roles in the industry since then and I hope to be working with books, in some form or another, until the day I die.

What is something new you’ve observed in bookselling over the years?

Parents are having an ongoing battle with technology and their children, but they are coming into bookshops more and more looking for books that will engage their children and get them off their devices for a little while. There are few things sadder, in my opinion, than seeing a baby in a pram holding an iPhone. They could be holding a book and actively engaging, not passively consuming entertainment from a screen.

What is the weirdest thing to happen to you in a bookshop?

I’ve met some amazing authors, famous and emerging. I’ve been asked out on dates, and I’ve been asked for money. I’ve also been told some tall tales, and just last month, I was asked if I was interested in joining a pirate band! You never know what’s going to happen on the shop floor and as long as I have one positive connection with another human being, then it’s a great day.

Describe your taste in books.

I have very wide ranging taste in books. When I was younger I loved cultural theory and philosophy, particularly if these were encapsulated in a novel. Now I’m a parent I don’t have as much energy for deep thought – I love a good page-turning thriller, an immersive middle fiction novel that takes you to another place, or a young adult novel that features young people taking on the world. I have also fallen in love with graphic novels in a big way and enjoy a beautifully designed coffee table book with images of the environment or architecture.

What is your favourite part of your job?

Unboxing the new releases each month is pretty exciting. It’s also a wonderful feeling when someone asks for a recommendation for a child and you’re able to discover the perfect book for them – one that is going to give them a lot of joy and possibly change the way they feel about books.

What was your favourite childhood book?

I have very vivid memories of my father reading The Lorax to me over and over again. When I could read, I would read it to him. I think that book had a huge impact on me and my interest in sustainability and protecting the natural environment during my life. 50 years after it was written it still feels incredibly timely and important. My daughter’s school recently performed a play based on it, and I had tears in my eyes as I watched. It’s a true classic that challenges our society in a way that still feels radical today.

What kind of trends do you see in books right now? Do you have any predictions for the future?

It feels like we are having a great renaissance in publishing at the moment in terms of diverse voices, inclusiveness, and social justice. I’m pleased to see much greater diversity in characters, ethnicity, sexuality and able-bodiedness. I look forward to seeing more and more of this in the near future.