inquire on php programming

Dear Sir/Madam, i am most facinated by the content of your site and php programming, i have heard of php several months ago and have seen what it can do on a database + it seems easier than other languages to use. I would be strongly interested in getting in to programming it myself as I am starting web development. Is there some software able to help with php programming or could you please recommand me a book from the list on your site, that could help me started . Thanking you in advance, Kind regards, Olivier Florence