CHILDREN’S BESTSELLERS

Southern California Ranking:

1. 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: 6

2. 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: 3

3. POKEMON by Jason R. Rich (Sybex: $9.95) Game clues and a story based on the hit video game in which players capture and train 150-plus colorful little critters. (Ages 9 and up.)

Last Month: 5; Months on List: 2

4. ANIMORPHS 32: THE SEPARATION BY K.A. Applegate (Apple: $4.99) After a morphing accident, Rachel faces a “mean” version of herself. (Ages 9 to 12.)

Last Month: --; Months on List: 1

5. GOING HOME by Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz (Harper Trophy: $5.95 paper) A migrant couple’s return to their Mexican village causes their son to think about the life left behind when they moved to the U.S. (Ages 4 to 8.)

Rankings are based on a Times poll of Southland bookstores.