Los Angeles Times Children’s Bestsellers

December 10, 2000

1 OLIVIA by Ian Falconer (Atheneum: $16) The marvelous and mischievous, black, white and red adventures of a girl pig. (Ages 3 to 7)

2 THE GIGGLER TREATMENT by Roddy Doyle (Arthur A. Levine: $14.95) When adults treat children unfairly, the teeny-tiny Gigglers give them “the treatment”: pooh on the shoe. (Ages 9 to 12)

3 HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS by Louise Gikow (Random House Children’s: $4.99) A novelization of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale of a green meanie bent on ruining the holidays for Whoville. (Ages 10 and up)

4 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 Hogwarts School. (Ages 9 to 12)

5 LORD BROCKTREE: A TALE FROM REDWALL by Brian Jacques (Philomel Books: $22.95) The 13th novel in the series about the fearsome badger-warrior. (Ages 9 to 12)

6 STARGIRL by Jerry Spinelli (Alfred A. Knopf: $15.95) A lesson about peer pressure and conformity is presented in this tale of a teenager smitten by a quirky new girl at school. (Ages 14 and up)

7 ROBERTO: THE INSECT ARCHITECT by Nina Laden (Chronicle Books: $15.95) A termite with a dream to build a community for his crawly friends travels to the bug city. (Ages 3 to 6)

8 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)

9 MR. LINCOLN’S WHISKERS by Karen B. Winnick (Boyds Mills Press: $7.95) The true story of an 11-year-old girl who, in 1860, told President Lincoln in a letter that he’d look better with a beard. (Ages 5 to 8)

10 WHERE DO BALLOONS GO? by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell (HarperCollins: $16.95) When a little boy accidentally lets go of his balloon, he begins an imaginary adventure. (Ages 4 to 8)

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Rankings are based on a Times poll of Southland bookstores.