Haven't seen Maya Character Animation yet, but it looks interesting.
I have Maya 4 Fundamentals, and it is a very good book for anyone new to Maya. I assume that the 4.5 version will be just as good.
The Art of Maya is a good informational book but way overpriced for what it is. All of the information in that book can be found in other books, in the Maya documentation, and by asking around here. Pretty coffee table book, though.