mcoxx,
If you want to learn this well - both to pass the test and to work as a CCNA then as Ghost said above - get some real Cisco routers.
You can pickup 3 2501 routers on Ebay and all the cables you need for great prices. Try to get routers with a max 16MEGS DRAM and 16MEGS FLASH and the lastest greatest IOS. Remember unless you have an active account at Cisco you can not just download the IOS. Do a searh in the router section at Ebay on "labs" and you might find some complete lab setups - routers, switches, cables, IOS, rack ears etc. .
You can also rent time on online Cisco router racks or go to the free one listed in this forum(I am sure he will post his free link shortly).
As far as books pick 2 different publishers, I always used Cisco Press and Sybex. Cisco Press goes into great detail, Sybex gives you just what you need to pass the exam.
I also like CBT Nuggets - videos with instructors lecturing on the different subjects with lots of examples and diagrams.
You also should get a good Router sim, the one from Cisco Press/Boson is one of the best.
I have done all of this and I passed the CCNA 607 and CCNA 801 exams 1st time I took them.
I hope this helps!
E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +