I used "Quilting - the Basics and Beyond" by Jeri Simon. It has clear and practical color illustrations - even some left-handed ones!!! - and it stays open on the table because it is ring-bound inside the hard covers. It has some nice little projects in the back but I haven't tried them as I would rather flub up on my own and then search the Board for videos and tutes.
Not that you asked... but my advice to a beginning quilter is - don't try to take it all in at once! Let each quilt be something new to learn and don't be afraid to explore and try things. I pull out and redo my mistakes - things I can correct on the second round most of the time - but I've learned to accept my skill level and seek to improve it over the long term, and I get a lot of joy from the process.
My son might say that's his golf philosophy LOL!