I wrote a pretty long reply on your post asking about ground school. Thankfully...I can be a lot shorter here.
For me, it just made sesnse to read handbook on aeronautical knowledge first. I was using it to figure out also what my ground school Norwegian textbooks were meaning when I was not sure about translation.
But still, it is the basis of how one flys. In the Student Pilots Flight Manual it seemed to me they assumed some knowledge of flight that is found in the other book. But of course, I sneaked peeks in there too. Just for me anyway I felt it only made sense to learn the principles of flight, how instruments work, their idiosyncrasies, etc. before learning how to fly.
Another thing I REALLY suggest. Get a copy of "Stick and Rudder". I read it before I even did my discovery flight. It is very helpful and straightforward, well written. It helps.
I also forgot to mention in the long post in ground school....I started out trying to do ground school and flying lessons at the same time. After about eleven flight hours I realized I just had to get the ground school out of the way first (here in Norway, you cannot solo until you have taken the exams and I was nearing solo, at least it heard that) and for me anyway, I couldn't do both at the same time as after each flight you really want to digest what you did go over mistakes, let things sink in, etc. I at least couldn't handle that while also learning al these new concepts, but...I am glad I got some flying in. It made the theory make more sense.
Good luck!