Los Angeles Times Children’s Bestsellers / August 5, 2001

1 THE BAD BEGINNING by Lemony Snicket (HarperTrophy: $9.95) The first book in the ‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ series introduces the Baudelaire children. (Ages 9 to 12

2 THE PRINCESS DIARIES by Meg Cabot (HarperCollins: $5.95 paper) Mia, an American girl, learns that she is the princess of a small European country. (Ages 10 and older)

3 HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE by J.K. Rowling (Arthur A. Levine: $5.99 paper) Unhappy at home, a young boy discovers that he is a magician with great powers. (Ages 9 to 12)

4 PRINCESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT by Meg Cabot (HarperCollins: $15.95) Mia’s adventures continue as she tries to cope with adolescence, her divorced parents and the turmoil of being an instant celebrity. (Ages 10 and older)

5 SHREK! by William Steig (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $5.95 paper) The journey of a horrid little ogre to find true love in a world of witches, dragons and knights. (Ages 5 to 8)

6 HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic: $6.99 paper) Harry risks his life to solve a mystery at Hogwarts School. (Ages 9 to 12)

7 THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin: $12) The adventures of Bilbo Baggins in the imaginary world of Middle-Earth. (Ages 9 and older)

8 HEY, LITTLE ANT by Philip M. Hoose (Tricycle Press: $14.95) An ant begs a little boy not to squash him, pointing out that he has feelings and loved ones too. (Ages 5 to 8)

9 TAKE ME OUT OF THE BATHTUB by Alan Katz, illustrated by David Catrow (Margaret McElderry: $15) Ludicrous lyrics to 14 traditional tunes. (Ages 4 to 8)

10 VERO AND PHILIPPE by Caroline Hatton (Cricket Books: $15.95) Sibling rivalry turns to teamwork as a brother and sister unite to help their family’s young maid, who’s been fired. (Ages 8 to 12)

Rankings are based on a Times poll of Southland bookstores.