Arnold the donkey has a problem: when the other animals laugh, his ears go flat and his day goes gray. Good thing his best friend Widget has a plan.
Arnold the donkey has a problem. Those pesky flies are driving him crazy!
One day, the farmer brings Arnold a pair of pants, and the problem is solved... or is it? All the animals laugh at Arnold wearing pants. He is so ashamed, he hides — until his best friend Widget comes up with a brilliant plan to turn this awful situation around.
A gentle story about big feelings, loyal friends, and the courage to try again.
The Hero
A donkey with enormous ears, a heart to match, and a habit of taking every giggle straight to heart. Stubborn in the best way — once he's got a plan, he sees it through.
The Best Friend
The donkey in the next stall over, and the first one Arnold tells when something's wrong. Widget doesn't laugh — Widget thinks. And when an idea finally clicks, there's no missing it.
"Everyone laughed. Even the cows, who laugh at everything."
"'What if,' Widget said, 'we didn't hide it at all?'"
"For the first time all week, Arnold's ears stood straight up."
Notice the pattern. Arnold and Widget figure out exactly what gets the biggest laughs — and why that's actually useful information.
Try something new. Instead of hiding what makes him different, Arnold tries something no one expects him to try.
Wear it proudly. The last part is the hardest one — and it's the one that changes everything.
(You'll have to read the book to find out what Arnold actually wears.)
Gives kids language for what it feels like to be laughed at — and permission to feel it.
Shows what it looks like to ask for help, and what it looks like to give it.
Models problem-solving instead of shrinking — a gentle nudge toward resilience.
Great for bedtime, classroom read-alouds, or any kid working through the sting of being teased.
OC Children's Book Festival
Sunday, September 20, 2026 · 10 AM–3 PM
Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA · Free admission · Cosworth Publishing booth
Briana London reads Arnold's Pants at 2:35 PM — Orange Small Stage, Student Union Area
Chicago Book Festival
September 12–13, 2026 · Chicago, IL
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books · April 18–19, 2026 · University of Southern California · Cosworth Publishing booth
Arnold's Pants is available wherever picture books are sold — hardcover, paperback, and a version for your shelf that will absolutely get pulled off it every night.
Briana is an award-winning editor, screenwriter, and book author. A native Californian, she enjoys spending peaceful time with her horse, her dog, and — of course — her beloved family.
