Book excerpt: Nikolajeva (comparative literature, Stockholm U., Sweden and Abo Akademi U., Finland) realized from the poor responses of her students--future teachers--that they were not being given adequate tools for analyzing the artistic means used for characterization in children's literature. She therefore investigates the ontological and epistemological aspects of characters in children's fiction, and identifies the principle differences between characterization in children's fiction and in general fiction. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.