Today I was extremely saddened by the news that The Friendly Giant, Bob Homme, had died.

Homme's contribution to music and books in the lives of children was enormous. I loved that show of his, with the castle and the rooster and the giraffe and the comfy chairs and the cow jumping over the moon. Few of us can hear 'Early One Morning without seeing the drawbridge move. I don't think there has ever been better children's programming than this little gentle, creative, intelligent 12 minute show (which was broadcast for over 25 years!). Is it possible that The Friendly Giant impressed me so much as a child that I grew up to teach both Music and English, to sing, and to play many musical instruments including harp and recorder?!

Good-bye, Friendly!

~black walnut ..................................................

This is from the CBC website:

Friendly Giant dies after lengthy illness WebPosted Wed May 3 08:19:04 2000 GRAFTON, ONTARIO - Bob Homme has died. For years he was a familiar and welcome face on CBC TV as the Friendly Giant on the popular children's show.

A scene from 'The Friendly Giant' TV show Homme died on Tuesday. He had prostate cancer. He was 81.

The Friendly Giant debuted on radio in 1953 in Madison, Wisconsin. Homme, Rusty the Rooster and Jerome the Giraffe, characters on the program, moved to Canada in 1958. The show became a staple of CBC programming for more than 25 years.

It introduced generations of children to books and music. Homme was the creator, writer and star of the show.

The show started the same way every day, with Friendly opening the drawbridge and reaching down with a gigantic hand to arrange, "One little chair for one of you, and a bigger chair for two more to curl up in, and for someone who likes to rock, a rocking chair in the middle."

Then, he invited viewers to, "Look up. . . look waayyy up." There he stood, joined by his friends Rusty and Jerome, and they would set about singing chatting and reading stories to young viewers during the 15 minute show.

Homme was awarded the Order of Canada in 1998. He was too ill to travel to Ottawa to receive the award, so Romeo LeBlanc, then governor-general, made a special visit to his home in Grafton, Ontario, to present the medal.

Homme is survived by his wife Esther and four children.