I am back after reading a technical book by Janie Gildow...
Colored Pencil Explorations.

http://www.amazon.com/Colored-Pencil...pr_product_top

I bought this book used from Amazon, and it came in pristine condition!
I went through it very slowly, and think it is the best one out there for beginners. It has advanced techniques in it too..but Janie is a long time teacher, and she begins very well with simple ideas and supplies.

This is one of her videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXiUoYWBiqY

Back when I was first using colored pencil there were very few types to choose from. In the US basically Prismacolor and Prismacolor Verithin were about it. England and Europe had their own which now have branched out to the US. But back then the stores didn't have much to choose from. Now you can buy online at Blick's or another outlet, or on Ebay, and sometimes on Etsy.
I've been collecting many types now, to experiment with.

Another helpful place besides YouTube is WetCanvas forum. It has comments on every aspect of art and how to make it. Opinions, factoids about the manufacture of the various products, their lightfastness (will they fade or not? )...papers to try, etc. I don't post there, but I sure do read it often and enjoy it. I found Lyra pencils mentioned there and also Polychromos by Faber Castell (which are now more popular than Primacolors!) and are much better quality IMO, (and more expensive).

You can buy watercolor pencils, which go on dry and can be wet carefully to create washes. These are handy for those who don't handle the water part well. There are now empty reservoir brushes (best is Pentel) which hold only water, and you squeeze gently as you paint your dry watercolor pencil with clear water!
I find this very nifty! LOL And also very handy for working outside or when traveling.

There are pastel pencils for fine lines. Can be mixed with watercolor techniques or used alone. I'll put up here one of my large bird's nest drawings I did with pastel pencil only....

The drawing pencils can be wax based (Prismacolor, Derwent) or
oil based, (Polychromos, Lyra). These now can be blended...and have special pencils with only the base core in wood to blend colors on your paper. You can also use Odorless Mineral Spirits to blend, these types too. The technical books explain the difference.
Both of these types resist water.

When I was using colored pencil (as in the drawing I put up earlier on this thread, these tools were not in use yet. (or even made). So in some respects I feel like a newbie playing with my new supplies and trying to get the effects I want today. It is rather daunting, I must confess, but still very much fun.

One can use colored pencils today, and get a result that looks like a PAINTING. This is handy for people who don't have lots of room for painting/easels, messes, etc. And it is handy for people who work small and intimately, like I tend to do now.
The video I put up in this thread shows a drawing of a pear, which looks like a painting, and very real. One can also do abstracts, and all sorts of special effects. Janie's book has some guest artists who do amazing things with pencil...you'd never guess the finished piece was done the way it appears!

Back to basics... this video is a basic explanation of applying color to paper... the basic strokes, how to sharpen, things like that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFGBQJCnwbI

When I was in University fine arts, no one was teaching THIS!

Here is my pastel pencil nest... 18x 24 inch: #1

#2 is a drawing from the field -- the playground at my young son's school for recess. They had a large wooden horse donated by a parent that the children could climb up into (they called it The Trojan Horse). I did several drawings at this school..and this one is only one of those. I used Verithin pencils for this, as I could build up color without worrying about major errors which are difficult to remove with wax based pencils. Architects use Verithins also in their projective drawings.
They lend themselves to a delicate result. (which I like myself).

I haven't done finished things much with the Prismacolors yet.
So these are the only two I have for now that illustrate two styles that colored pencils can give.

Amazon has many high quality used books in their used book feature. Art books are very expensive... and I certainly cannot afford them new or hardcover. But using Amazon's used feature I have 3 new ones for more than 1/2 the price of new, and they were delivered in like new condition! Ebay also sells art technique books at comparable prices...I've seen some at what I paid as well. If you choose to get a book... go carefully...Amazon has reviews to help. Some books are great and others confusing or frustrating.

I am sharing authors on this thread that are understandable and who will help you learn and grow with little frustration. I was self taught from 5 yrs old until I took University classes, as an adult. (an adult ed teacher suggested I go that route instead of night adult ed courses). I am glad I finally did. But I know what failure feels like and frustration and being stuck. That is part of any artistic creative endeavor. The trick is to learn how to move ahead with a minimum of the pain!

Both of these works were done AFTER my University training...after I had left school. I developed my own style as realism was frowned upon there. But the design courses I took and all the rest contributed to my more mature style.

edit to add: Here is an interesting interview with Janie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuX2LckNx5c