Just So Stories

Fremantle Press

August 2025

ISBN: 9781760994167

RRP: AU $44.99/NZ$50.00/US$34.95

Like millions of others, I’ve had my fair share of LEGO® in my life, starting with my girls, then grandies and certainly, numerous times in my libraries with LEGO® free-range activities and clubs both construction and stop motion film. I have run competitions for Book Week (recreate a book scene in bricks). I’ve utilised LEGO® video clips to accompany learning from Romeo & Juliet to the Easter story. I even admit to a little obsession during Covid lockdowns buying up HP minifigs. And yes, I have made myself (and my close ones) into digital minifigs as well. It’s not surprising given my long fascination with all things miniature.

Honestly, can you imagine a world without LEGO®? It has been a staple for so many years and just continues to astonish, and boom. I’m loving that there is now a Friends set that features the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, and I know we have all applauded and appreciated that this is a multi-faceted non-gendered activity which empowers kiddos to imagine, envisage, create, engineer, design, problem-solve and so much more. The legion of viewers of the recent TV shows is a testament to the popularity and longevity of a ‘toy’ that is almost 100 years old. And let’s face it, it just never dies – I feel sure there are bricks still being used that have been around for decades and passed down in families.

And so we come to the RELICS Exhibition [which is yet another good reason for us to get back down to Canberra soon!] which is the foundation of this utterly amazing book, which I have been poring over for days. LEGO® Masters winners, Jackson and Alex, the creators of this future world inhabited by industrious and creative minifigs post-human civilisation, have given all brickheads, young and old, a joyous departure from reality with this expansion of their extraordinary exhibition pieces.

Each installation’s chapter is accompanied by close-ups and articles, encylopedia entries, fact files, message threads, surveillance reports on suss minifigs. I cannot possibly decide which is the most fascinating, or captures my imagination the most – Bleach Beach, Studz Diner (in the old jukebox) Cosmic Arcade that uses old arcade game consoles, Cryolife Resort and Wellness Centre in an old Kelvinator style fridge but, my personal favourite [given the fact that I’ve owned five in my lifetime] is Beetlesville in the old VW, although Timepunks Tower (grandfather clock case) comes pretty close as well.

If you are looking for a special Xmas gift for a brickhead in your life, you will win mega-accolades for presenting this. And a bonus would be the peace and quiet that would ensue – time for a few bevvies perhaps.

It truly is exceptional and nobody who sees it would deny it – it’s a 5 🧱🧱🧱🧱🧱rating without a hesitation.

NO, this is not kid-friendly but it’s still one of the funniest LEGO® vids I’ve ever seen. If you’re easily offended please don’t watch it!!! Suzy Eddie Izzard- Death Star Canteen