The magazine is named after Gatty's daughter, Juliana Horatia Ewing's childhood nickname, "Judy.

"[1] As the editor, Gatty aimed to include stories that would not only benefit the moral upbringing of children, but that would also bring joy and insight to adults.

[4] Gatty included a piece that she wrote in the November 1868 issue of the magazine titled "Unopened Parcels."

The father tells his daughter a story about his childhood, and how a friend of his learned the lesson of repentance by spending his life attempting to fix the deceit he committed on his mother.

Hans Christian Andersen made several contributions,[5] and illustrations by George Cruikshank, John Gilbert, Charles Keene, and Randolph Caldecott also appeared.