In this third book in the Craftily Ever After series, Maddie and her school friends will soon be learning all about the 1960s at school. Meanwhile, Maddie’s mother has been commissioned by the mayor to “create a custom-tailored suit for him to wear to the unveiling of the new town hall.” (8)

Maddie and her friend will be tie-dying in their craft work space at Emily’s house. They are all gathering white cotton fabric for the project. When some of the friends could not find any fabric for the project, Maddie goes into her mother’s sewing room, without asking first, to pick up some scraps. Maddie stuffs everything into a shopping bag from the sewing room and hurries off to begin the project with her friends. The next day after school, the fabric is unbound and hung up to dry revealing a dress shirt no one recognizes. The dress shirt has monogrammed cuffs. Using the computer, they discover the monogram initials match those of the mayor. Oh, no! First the group tries to remove the dye, which does not work. Now, how will Maddie get enough courage to tell her mother. The friends let Maddie know they will go with her to tell her mother, but Maddie says, “No.”

The next day, the mayor is at Maddie’s house, after school, for a fitting. Then and there Maddie admits to what has happened. The mayor is not angry. He likes the shirt. He was a child of the 1960s. The mayor will wear the tie-dyed shirt with the new suit. Maddie’s mother adds a tie-dyed pocket square to complete the look. The Mayor’s event is a success. Maddie and her mother are mentioned in the newspaper the next day in one of the articles about the event.

This book is full of realistic emotions and feelings.Illustrator Xindi Yan’s wide eyed characters, on almost every page, add to the enjoyment and understanding of the readers.

Directions for how to tie-dye follow the story, plus a sneak peek to book #4.