What are the best and "easy to learn from" books and lecture notes for programming language theory?

Let me give some examples of the type of books that I am looking for.

Another type of self-teaching guide/book that I am referring to are known as the Schaum's Outline Series.

Yet another type of self-teaching guide/books I am referring to are known as the Books for Dummies books.

If you know of any really good books that are widely popular as self-teaching guides then post the titles of the books on this post. If you know of any good lecture notes or any type of teaching material that helps the student learn programming language theory then also post the references and web-links to such educational material.

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