I would recommend SQL in Easy Steps. The book teachs SQL using the MySQL database. It does not teach you to be a DBA or to setup security. The book is an easy read made up primarily of sample code and output screenshots. I've loaned this book to a coworker where our database is Oracle.

My goal is to query the database from my scripts. One of the next books on my bookshelf is MySQL and Perl for the Web.

Edited by Chady -- fixed link.