My new children’s book, Uleyli- The Princess & Pirate: Based on the True Story of Florida’s Pocahontas, is the story of a Native American girl named Ulele who saves the life of a Spanish boy, Juan Ortiz, after he is captured by her father, the chief of the village. If the story sounds a lot like the story of Pocahontas then you’d be right. But this story happened in Florida 90 years before John Smith’s account in Virginia. Researchers actually think the Pocahontas story may have been inspired by the original Spanish story.
The book is available in two separate versions- a chapter book and a graphic novel. The illustrated chapter book is meant for grades 1-4, ages 6-9, and is 94 pages (6500 words) with black and white line illustrations. The graphic novel is meant for grades 4-6, ages 9-12, and is 36 pages (1500 words) with full color illustrations.