I prefer learning from php.net, but if you REALLY want a book in your hands, buy this one: Php: Your Visual Blueprint for Creating Open Source, Server-Side Content
It's an excellent book for beginners, with sample code, and a thorough step-by-step guide, learning how to program in general. The language used makes the book easy to read. It's not cluttered with programming jargon. And the pictures help too. 🙂
It covers from the very basic to the advanced. 🙂
