T-Roy's Pirogue by Ryan Scully

T-Roy's Pirogue by Ryan Scully

The first children’s book by Ryan Scully, T-Roy's Pirogue was inspired by the days after Hurricane Katrina in which he was stranded in Mid-City New Orleans with six feet of water in the street. Although he was high and dry on the second floor of a house, his friend T-Roy was stranded in a shotgun house across the street. From the balcony, Scully could see the water gradually rise until it reached the floor and beyond. As the water rose, T-Roy began collecting items from the “street river” with which he was able to build a boat. He was kept company by his dog Layla. The two worked together and it became clear that their companionship was essential to maintaining hope.

While T-Roy built his pirogue, Scully and friends were able to rescue four stray dogs swimming down the street. They must have escaped their fences when the water was high enough. Eventually, they all got out, including the dogs, and lived to tell the tale. The book captures the themes that defined those first few days: Hopefulness, ingenuity, self-reliance, and the irreplaceable companionship between man and dog.