Glenn Ringtved (b. 1968) is a spirited writer, currently with 16 books behind him ? books full of humor and great dramatic ability. In particular, he has written for younger children ? texts for picture books and books to be read aloud. Ringtved made his debut in 1995 with the book

(Benny Beef-Bird and Other Stories from the Circus Bambino), a frolicsome story about a boy who lives alone with his immensely fat mother, who suddenly gets the opportunity to take over the job of World?s Fattest Lady in the Circus Bambino and later marries the circus manager. The fun continues in his next book,

(Fidel Olsen and the Flying Fohatwa), published a year later. It is the story of a dictator, the Fohatwa of Waranda, and the child of his Danish minister, who share a number of adventures together ? with the Fohatwa as the eternal blunderer and the sly Fidel Olsen as his rescuer.

(The Stories of Captain Crookleg) from 1997 continues in the same informal, humorous style. Some of the scenes from his early books are priceless and elicit huge laughs from children and adults alike.

(Tilde the Boxing Champ) from 1998 is a real shift in Ringtved?s storytelling. Whereas the bad guys in his previous books had been comic figures, the evil characters in Mesterbokseren Tilde are truly mean and dangerous. It is the story of Anton and his father, who is a boxer, the Mighty Antonio. They travel from market to market with their old friend Fiff, a magician and juggler, and try to earn money by boxing with local farmers. All goes well, until a farmer, angry at having lost a match, attacks Anton?s father. Running parallel to the main plot is the story of Tilde, a kangaroo caught by an evil hunter, who has shot the kangaroo?s entire family. Anton later saves Tilde, and the kangaroo has to fight in the place of the father, until the latter recovers and puts a stop to it: ?? I would rather be as poor as a cockroach than force an animal to box.? The story ends happily, the father finds a wife, and Anton and the kangaroo can now enjoy life without, quite literally, the daily struggle for survival.

In Ringtved?s first book aimed at teenagers,

(My Inner Casanova) (1999), wickedness is coupled with Ringtved?s sure sense of humor. The novel tells the story of Valdemar K. Sørensen, who at fifteen has never been kissed and is head over heels in love with Sanne, a year his elder. Unfortunately, the errant spirit of his departed Uncle Valle took possession of Valdemar at birth. This errant spirit is incredibly lecherous, thinks only about sex, and drags Valdemar through a series of embarrassing episodes. The book is perfect for boys of that age for whom interest in the opposite sex is beginning to get an upper hand. Ringtved also tackles the topic of love in his picture book

(Kiss Me, I Hate You), illustrated by Charlotte Pardi. Here, the book is aimed not at teenagers but children (8-9 year olds) who have real difficulty expressing what they mean.

The picture book

(Just Cry, Heart?) (2001), also illustrated by Charlotte Pardi, is about Death, who has come to take the children?s grandmother. Death is sitting in the kitchen, where the children have served him coffee in the hope that he will forget all about their grandmother. For his part, Death tries to explain life?s contradictions to the children, about Tears and Laughter, Sorrow and Joy, and how they all need each other. Without Sorrow, no Joy, without Tears, no Laughter. Without Death, no Life. The children almost understand, and Death departs with their grandmother. It is a warm and touching book, which Ringtved wrote for his children on the occasion of his own mother?s death.

Ringtved has a good eye for the dramatic ? in part, because he has to capture the attention of younger children in his easy reading books. This ability coupled with his well-known humor is used to full effect in his latest novel for young people,

(2002), a superlative dramatic story in which Ringtved reshapes the legend of Billy the Kid in a more human form without wagging a moral finger at Billy?s many mistakes. Billy?s life is portrayed as the result of a long series of coincidences, linked by a slightly simplistic view of the world and a talent for ending up in bad company. Billy the Kid is a devil-may-care type for whom something always has to be going on. He is just as quick with his tongue as with his Winchester and is able to charm his way out of many a situation. Thus, for better or for worse, you crawl into the skin of Billy the Kid. Ringtved has achieved a perfectly realized story, captivating, exciting, funny and sad, all at the same time. It promises well for his future work.