CHILDREN’S BESTSELLERS : LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLERS / September 12, 1999

Southern California Ranking:

1 HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS by J.K. Rowling (Arthur A. Levine Books: $17.95) Harry risks his life to solve a mystery at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. (Ages 8 and up.)

Last Month: 2; Months on List: 4

2 DAVID GOES TO SCHOOL by David Shannon (Blue Sky Press: 32 pp., $14.95) The irrepressible David from “No David!” returns, and this time, he’s ready to disrupt class. (Ages 4 to 8.)

Last Month: --; Months on List: 1

3 HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic: $16.95) Unhappy at home, a young boy discovers that he is a great magician. (Ages 8 and up.)

Last Month: 1; Months on List: 7

4 CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS AND THE INVASION OF THE INCREDIBLY NAUGHTY CAFETERIA LADIES FROM OUTER SPACE by Dav Pilkey (Little Apple: 128 pp., $3.99) A superhero returns. (Ages 9 and up.)

Last Month: --; Months on List: 1

5 BARK, GEORGE by Jules Feiffer (Harper Collins: 32 pp., $14.95) As a young puppy struggles to find his own voice, hilarity ensues. (Preschool.)

Last Month: --; Months on List: 1

Rankings are based on a Times poll of the Southland bookstores.