Suzanne,
I have owned several versions of Adobe Elements (2, 3, 4, and 8)...and I still find it a challenge to use any but the simplest features...and that's despite having used several after market books on those versions. Be forewarned that unless you are willing to PRACTICE with the various features (and / or workalong with practical examples in books), it can be a chore. To get good at editing, you have to try most of the features by practicing on your own pix...and then remembering what you learned long enough to use it several months or a year from now!
Despite the foregoing, I happen to enjoy working with my pictures in Elements, but find that I rarely actually make any changes in my pix: I limit most of my efforts to using the programs to view the most recent pix, and delete all the unnecessary excess ones (view them to compare ones very much like another, and keep the best). Truth be told, I'm sure there are some simple editors that would let me do the same thing. However, one of my favorite features is "Panorama," which in Version 8 allows me to piece together multiple pix into one wiiiide angle!
There are LOTS of photo editor programs, and I believe you can find them just searching Google, etc. for "photo editor." You MAY wish to just try a free version, particularly to determine if it is too simple / too complex for you. I just verified this for myself, and suggest that you try searching "photo editor free download," AND just "photo editor."
I also suspect that there are a lot of TUGGERS who have experience with a wide variety of less complex photo editors...and perhaps you will hear from them.
On the other hand, because Adobe Photoshop (and Elements) are THE most widely sold programs, there are a TON of aftermarket books for them, including for each of the specific software versions: I have two for Elements 8.
If you are still serious about wanting Elements, I suggest that you use Amazon and scroll through its product description of Elements: It has lots of pictures showing some of the features. Further, you might want to view as least some of the Customer Reviews, and get a feel for how many are happy/unhappy with it: Perhaps the first few labeled "Most Helpful" and "Most Critical," and others that have LOTS to say. NOTE: There are now 150 comments for Version 8 (and which gets only about 3.3 stars rating).
I suspect that lots of folks buy Elements, thinking that's "the best," but quickly decide that it has too many features to learn...and is too complicated for the few things they actually want to do: It WILL take up a lot of your time, if you really want to learn it.
Another less expensive alternative is to buy a recently OUTDATED Elements (such as version 4 or 5), for a lot less than V. 8 ... and learn whether you would be happy with THAT...or want to buy the "Latest and Greatest" version. And if you get an older Elements, look in used bookstores for aftermarket books about that version: Half-Price Books usually has an excellent range of Elements books (at least in the Seattle area).
And if its JUST an Elements 8 BOOK that you want, once again I recommend searching through the selections available at Amazon...and the corresponding reviews. You should also consider browsing the shelves at whatever "big box" bookstore is handy, and comparing them for usefulness to you.
Good Luck with your choice.
That one is great for laughs, especially if you want to print a copy for family and friends! [But Yes, it takes a lot of practice to do it right.]