there are a variety of birds that are good for beginners, however some other questions you also need to think about are.. are you wanting them for eggs, meat, friendliness would be the first things to consider. then you also need to take into consideration your climate, if you get really cold weather in the winter months you will want something that is cold hardy.
bantams are usually quite friendly but their eggs are usually small.
depending on what breed of standard size chicken you get their eggs can vary in size. also keep in mind the lighter weight the bird the more flighty they can be.
the ones I find the best to start with are Australorps, Orpingtons, Brahmas, New Hampshires, Plymouth Barred Rocks, Delawares, Sussex, Welsummers, and Wyandottes.
there is also a breed chart that breaks it down to the type of birds, weight, egg color, egg size, cold/heat hardy, broodiness, and behavior..
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html