The binoculars idea is a very, very good one, I recommend that, too. It's much easier to learn your way around the sky (and sky maps) using binoculars, before going to the extra complications of a scope. With a little practice (and reasonably dark skies), it's amazing what you can see in binoculars. Sure, most things are dim little fuzzies, but that's always the case.

"Turn Left At Orion" is a terrific book, by the way. Aimed at kids, but there's nothing wrong with that.