Nikon D3100 is the best starter camera, it has been superseced recently by the D3200, that just means you are going to be able to pick up a D3100 fairly easily
It is very intuitive to use, and it has a built in guide before you start to learn to play around in manual (which is incredibly easy).
Purchase it. I bought my girlfriend one for £399.99, probably could score it a little less nowadays