Charlie Craven's book is good but it is almost a beginner-to-intermediate book really, and a bit more involved than what I consider a true beginner's manual.

Best ones I've found to date include by order of preference are: Skip Morris' Fly Tying Made Clear and Simple (a timeless classic), Peter Gathercole's Fly Tying for Beginners (interesting because it has a more continental flavor), David Hughes' Essential Trout Flies, Charlie Craven's Basic Fly Tying (great book but expensive and a bit more advanced that the others), and Tom Rosenbauer's The Orvis Fly-Tying Guide.