i learned php by reading two books: core php programming ( my favorite ) and php4 a beginners guide. get them from frys, barnes and noble, or maybe amazon.com?
read php4 a beginners guide first so you can learn the syntax and all the ways to approach php. then the core just has lists and lists of commands and examples on how to use them all. php bible i'm sure is good too, any books would help. also
www.php.net/ANYCOMMAND will give you a full on detail + user posts that could help you perfectly with what you're coding. php is also very easy and easy to catch on to. if you need anymore help you can im me on: gotonetrnu
if that helps ;]!