php code

Here is a code snippet from my project
$db = mysql_pconnect('', 'name', 'pass');
$sd=  mysql_select_db("books",$db);

the first part works perfectly and it connects to the mysql
however it will not choose the database i need.

if i change the name of the database to something random i get
 
Access denied for user 'user'@'localhost' to database 'dhjfjh_books'
selecting database failed

It seems to think it selected the database properly but still returns false