The Adventures of Rhodes and Alana

Will a fun day at the ballpark be ruined by a bully? Or will Alana's friendship help Rhodes stand up for himself? If Rhodes and the bully learn about each other's challenges off the field, they could have a perfect game on the field!

Bully Blues is the second book in a new children's book series called The Adventures of Rhodes and Alana. This story will capture the imaginations of young readers with three chapters and color illustrations on each page. Elementary-age kids will enjoy how these two spirited eight-year-olds turn everyday situations into fun adventures. Parents, educators, counselors, and clinicians will appreciate the subtle lessons about friendship, bullying, and life with an invisible condition, such as type one diabetes and food allergies.

This is Rhodes and Alana Ritenour's second children's book in the series The Adventures of Rhodes and Alana. They are the founders of The Diabetes Support Group, a national online diabetes community that provides practical advice, encouragement, and resources for diabetics and those who support them. Rhodes was diagnosed with T1D in 1983 at age five. He currently serves on the national board of directors of the American Diabetes Association. Rhodes and Alana met at the University of Virginia. They have been married for sixteen years and live in central Virginia.

This is Alana and Rhodes Ritenour's second children's book in the series The Adventures of Rhodes and Alana. They are the founders of The Diabetes Support Group, a national online diabetes community that provides practical advice, encouragement, and resources for diabetics and those who support them. Alana serves on the JDRF mid-Atlantic chapter board. Alana and Rhodes met at the University of Virginia. They have been married for sixteen years and live in central Virginia.

Erwin Madrid is a visual development artist, background painter, and children's book illustrator with over twenty-one years of experience in the entertainment industry. Notable projects include contributions to renowned films like Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Madagascar 3, Megamind, and Trolls Band Together. He supervised as a lead background painter in the TV series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. Erwin has also created conceptual art for the video game industry, including for titles like Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. In 2008, Erwin ventured into the world of children's books and since has illustrated over two hundred book covers for publishers that include HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, and Candlewick Press.