If a trainee teacher could read one book related to primary languages, which should it be?

Rather than recommend a book related to primary languages pedagogy. I am going to recommend the book ‘If the World Were a Village’ by David J Smith and Shelagh Armstrong which can be used in the classroom and which both children, and adults, will find fascinating.  This book manages to present the world as a village of 100 people and we soon discover that 22 of them speak a Chinese dialect and 17 cannot read or write. We find out about people’s religions, education and living standards. A great place to start when discussing the concept of global citizens and a great link with language and culture.