Foam is perfect for you since building is a secondary goal. If you ever want to build a balsa based model though, the above information these guys posted is very good information.

Sig, BalsaUSA, AlienAircraft, and a few others are great sources for kits. Even some older classics from GreatPlanes and maybe TopFlite make for some great builds, although the skill levels do go up with some older classics, and most older classics are harder to get a hold of. You can't go wrong with Sig though.

I've always said if a novice builder builds a good kit from each of say 5 manufacturers, and reads/studies/follows all directions, they will end up with a good start on a mental library of great techniques to take into their building future. Each kit/manufacturer has instructions that include techniques and tricks to accomplish and complete their models. Study those, and apply them as needed, and a person can become a very worthy builder... and have a pretty good stash of tricks up their sleeve, that all perpetuate into future building.

My vote would go to the Sig Kadet MkII for a first time balsa based build. When those planes are built well, per the plans and instructs, a builder is nearly guaranteed a nice flying plane.

Good luck with the project.