Collectibles can be found within each chapter of Tell Me Why. These small wooden figurines can be collected by Tyler and Alyson in areas of interest.
These unique collectibles are representative of characters in the twins' childhood stories from the Book of Goblins, and are in turn inspired by Mary-Ann's relationships with her children and the Delos Crossing locals.
Chapter 1: Homecoming[]
There are six collectible items in the first chapter. For current theories surrounding the relationships between the characters and their Book of Goblin counterparts, visit the Theories page.
The Crafty Goblins[]
- "The Crafy Goblins are two cunning little thieves who live under the Princess's house. They're always getting into mischief, but they have good hearts."
The only collectible items which are not optional, these are found by Alyson when she looks for her house keys, and by Tyler when packing up his belongings when leaving Fireweed.
The Mad Hunter[]
- "The Mad Hunter is a cruel and ruthless creature. Once he starts hunting someone, he never stops! He'll chase his prey to the ends of the Earth if he needs to. No one can escape his Piercing eye!"
A creepy and mysterious figure, the Mad Hunter plays a sinister role in the childhood stories. The figure can be found in the crawl space beneath the Ronan House, and the twins admit that he was Mary-Ann's creation. There is some speculation about who, or what, the Mad Hunter represents in Mary-Ann's life.
The Wise Princess[]
- "The wise Princess is a runaway from a far-off land. She won't tell anyone what she's running from, because just thinking about it makes her cry. She is friends with all the animals of the forest, and has a kind and generous soul."
Obtainable from Mary-Ann's bedroom by the right side of the bed, it is clear that this character represents Mary-Ann herself.
The Pious Pelican[]
- "The Pious Pelican is the Princess's generous friend. She has a magical beak that is always full of food and never empties."
The pelican can be found in the storage cabinet in Tessa Vecchi's office in the general store. The character of the pelican was inspired by Tessa and reflects both her generosity and religious beliefs.
The Ice King[]
- "The Ice King is the lord of the whole forest. He is so powerful that no one dares to challenge his commands!"
This statuette is found behind a cabinet in the interrogation room in the Delos Crossing Police Department. There is speculation that Eddy Brown is the inspiration for the character, as the location is related to him and he is an authority figure in the town.
Chapter 2: Family Secrets[]
The Big Frog[]
- "The Big Frog is an effervescent creature who tries to be kind, but is also a tireless gossip. The Ice King punished her once by telling her his deepest secret. If she tells anyone, she'll lose her voice forever!"
The frog can be found stuck to the underside of the booth table. It is unclear who the inspiration behind the character is.
The Stalwart Moose[]
- "The Stalwart Moose is a kind, loyal animal. He always criticizes the Goblins for their tricks but... He actually likes them."
The moose can be found inside Eddy's computer desk drawer in his office at the police station. The moose is confirmed earlier in the episode to be inspired by Eddy himself, sharing their law-abiding nature and desire to set their friends on the right path of morality.
The Mangy Muskrat[]
- "The Mangy Muskrat is a lazy, cowardly creature who spends most of his time lying around in the sun, cleaning his coat."
The muskrat can be found sitting on a desk near Tom's box of misprinted plushies at Vecchi's. There is speculation that the inspiration behind the muskrat is Tom Vecchi. Though Tom does not display the selfishness, vanity, or cowardice seen in the Muskrat, it is theorized that his friendly demeanor may be a front to hide these traits.
The Very Old Beaver[]
- "The Very Old Beaver is a helpful and industrious creature. She is the Princess's most loyal friend."
The beaver can be found in a sewing kit box behind Carol Brown's tombstone in the cemetery. It is theorized that the character is based on Eddy's mother, Carol, who Mary-Ann had a strong attachment to before her death.
The Moon Hag[]
- "The Moon Hag is an old and powerful witch. She lures her innocent victims deep beneath the ice, and traps them there forever!"
The Moon Hag can be found inside one of the lower cupboards at the barn, opposite to the crowbar. It is speculated that the character's inspiration is Sam's ex-wife, Laura, who apparently left him over his relationship with Mary-Ann. Laura may be viewed by Mary-Ann in a negative light, causing her to be cast as the hateful and deceptive villain who enacts a revenge scheme using the Mad Hunter.
Chapter 3: Inheritance[]
The Secret Keeper[]
- "The Secret Keeper is a travelling woman who buys and sells secrets. She stores all these secrets in the clouds, because nobody ever looks up when they're searching for missing things."
The Secret Keeper can be found within a box on a shelf inside Eddy's room. After examining the box once, Alyson can find and use a coin to unlock the box and retrieve the statue.
The Old Bear[]
- "The Old Bear is a mighty beast who lives in a beautiful cave of ice. He is in love with the wise Princess, but she only sees him as a friend."
The Old Bear can be found inside Sam's laptop desk in his upstairs room at the cannery. The bear is indicated to be based on Sam, as both share their persistent and ultimately futile pursuit of a love interest.
The Gold Lady[]
- "The Gold Lady is the Wise Princess' cruel mother, who sent the Mad Hunter to drive the girl back to the palace."
The Gold Lady can be found within a compartment after solving the first puzzle in the barn's loft. The character is indicated to be based on Mary-Ann's mother, as both were wealthy maternal figures whose daughters ran away due to feeling too controlled.