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In this illustrated children's book, Funny Fani' (fuh-NEE') is a squirrel who loves animals. When she goes on a special trip to the zoo, Fani' imagines making friends with all of the animals, big and small! Follow Fani' on a silly rhyming adventure and learn the Chickasaw words for every animal she encounters. For even more animal fun, explore the oversized glossary, discover dozens of interesting animal facts, and learn how certain animals relate to Chickasaw history and culture.
About the author
Wiley Barnes, a Chickasaw citizen, holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Oklahoma State University, and has spent twenty-one years forging a career in the publishing industry, and the last fourteen years with the Chickasaw Nation. Barnes is the author of the non-fiction children's book, C is for Chickasaw, which received a Gold Benjamin Franklin for Best New Voice: Children's/Young Adult, a Bronze Moonbeam for Multicultural Nonfiction Picture Book, was an Oklahoma Book Award Finalist, and was adapted into an app in 2017, followed by a coloring book in 2018. Funny Fani' is Barnes's second children's title. He lives in Ada, Oklahoma, with his wife and two children. Lokosh (Joshua D. Hinson) is a Chickasaw citizen, also of Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, and Euro-American descent. A conversational speaker of the Chickasaw language, he is the director of the Chickasaw Language Revitalization Program and an award-winning artist. He holds a bachelor's degree in painting from Abilene Christian University, a master's degree in Native American art history from the University of New Mexico, and a doctorate in Native language revitalization from the University of Oklahoma. He creates art within the Chickasaw Nation, located in Ada, Oklahoma.
