Knitting Basics by B. Barnden is what I learned with. It has pictures AND drawings - each have their strengths and together you get the best of both worlds. I would also recommend the Sally Melville books, though they're a bit more expensive. The Sally Melville books are "The Knit Stitch" and "The Purl Stitch." They're both fabulous and tell you all sorts of things beyond the Barnden book. The Barnden book is enough to get you started without spending too much $$, and then if you realize you're serious about knitting, you can consider splurging on the Melville books.