One of the best books (thorough, accessible, well-organized) about spatial analysis and spatial statistics, ever.

This popular book has been separated into two documents (basics and advanced), and has been revised to take full advantage of digital textbook formats, being published both as an iBook (for iPad) and PDF. In addition, it provides direct links to concepts from Geographic Information Science articulated in the AAG’s “Book of Knowledge” (BoK), which provides a clear way for educators to design, organize, and align their courses within the broader GIScience model curricula.

GIS Concepts and ArcGIS Methods: Basics is an ideal textbook for introductory GIS courses as it demonstrates how to display, query, edit, and analyze feature-based geographic data, while the companion volume, GIS Concepts and ArcGIS Methods: Advanced, covers raster-based geographic data in depth.

A popular standby book, appreciated for its clear descriptions, shared figures, and reasonable price.  Additional lab exercises are available, as are all text figures.

Newly revised, with exercises on web mapping and python scripting.  A mix of background, explanation, and application.

Not a book on how to teach GIS specifically, but rather why.  Contributed chapters that review the entirety of the role that GIS plays in higher education.

Someone had to write one, right?

Accessible and straight-forward.  Emphasis on modeling and analysis.

Thorough and comprehensive.  Includes concepts, theories, underpinnings of the science behind the systems.

a workbook that introduces the principles of GIS via hands-on exercises