RE: What is a good beginner kit?
Sig Something extra or 1/5 scale cub are both good kits for a first build. Top Flite lets you look at the manuals before you buy and have some nice planes, a bit harder to build. Balsa USA have nice kits but a lot harder to build.
I would also second the opinion on using wood glue rather than CA, it is stronger, gives you time to fix mistakes, and doesn't have the problems of toxic fumes.