Better Homes and Gardens complete guide to quilting is the best overall, reference book and the only book I use as reference still to this day. Eleanor burns books are also great beginner books. Her instructions are very easy to read. I would start with an easy pattern like a log cabin, rail fence, or irish chain. There is a lot of information out there. I learned from eleanor starting out 12years ago sand used my BHG as a reference book later on when I really got into quilting more often