C++ For Dummies is an excellent book for beginning the C++ language. Mine goes from the basics all the way into the more challenging stuff like polymorphism and inheritance and all of that good stuff. And it is full of testable examples and good explanations.

It doesn't go into API, but it does lay out the basic foundation.

However, its been a while since I got it and so I don't remember where it is from. I'm sure amazon.com or barnes and noble have it.