When the young hero of Roald Dahl’s story is orphaned in an automobile accident, he is left in the care of his aged grandmother—a formidable cigar-smoking lady who happens to be a retired expert on dealing with witches. In spite of her warnings about how to spot these horrific creatures, her grandson accidentally wanders into the annual convocation of the witches of England—and overhears the horrifying plans in store for every child in the country. But before he can escape to reveal the witches’ plot, he is captured and turned into a mouse. However, he is no ordinary mouse and this is no ordinary tale. Along with a new introduction--in which James Patterson guarantees this book will "get kids addicted to reading!"--this thirtieth-anniversary edition includes photographs, reproductions of original manuscript pages, and a fascinating and funny reminiscence by editor Stephen Roxburgh on working with Roald Dahl.