2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of The Witches by Roald Dahl.
Over the years, the book has frequently appeared on the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books. In a 2012 interview with The Telegraph, illustrator Quentin Blake confessed that the book shocked him and he found it “pretty frightening.”
Earlier this year, Farrar, Straus and Giroux published a 30th anniversary edition of the book that includes an introduction by James Patterson, photos, and reproductions of the original manuscript pages.
In honor of the anniversary, we’ve put together a list of three ideas on how fans can celebrate.
(1) Host a movie-watching party for the 1990 film adaptation starring Oscar winner Anjelica Huston and serve chocolates laced with “Formula 86 Delayed-Action Mouse Maker.”
(2) Take a trip to the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre to join in on the “Swizzfigglingly Spooky Bowls” event on October 30th. Participants are encouraged to draw the Grand High Witch in their bowls!
(3) Dress up as a witch for Halloween by coloring your spit blue, donning claws for fingenails, wearing gloves, limping in tiny shoes, and covering your head with a wig.