(Originally posted on Aug. 21, 2012)
A couple of weeks ago I found out that someone (Grant Fairley) had written a biography of The Friendly Giant! I had to get it. So I ordered it from Palantir Publishing and it arrived today!
Friendly (aka Bob Homme) has a very special place in my heart.
For starters, I loved watching The Friendly Giant when I was a kid. I’m sure part of my love of books came from all the books he read to me.
So when I was turning 40, I decided to mark the milestone by writing to someone who had an influence on me and thanking them. I chose The Friendly Giant. I had two children’s books published at that time, so I decided to send a copy of each to him along with a letter and a children’s book that he had written that I’d found in a second-hand store – The Friendly Giant’s Book of Fire Engines – which I asked if he would mind signing and sending back to me in the self-addressed stamped envelope that I also included.
In the letter I told him how much his show had meant to me as a kid, and how much I thought it contributed to my love of books. I thanked him for that. I said that I was saddened when his show was cancelled, because my children missed out on it. I told him that I had sent him my books as a thank you, and mused how awesome it would have been for me if my books could have been read by The Friendly Giant.
I didn’t know what to expect. I figured if I never heard back from him that at least I felt I had done the right thing by thanking him.
And then a package arrived in the mail. We don’t have door-to-door mail delivery, but a post office. I gave the postal clerk my package notice card and she returned from the back with a large brown envelope. My return envelope! And the return address sticker read “From the Castle of The Friendly Giant”. I ripped it open then and there. Inside was the book I had sent him to sign as well as another book he had written – The Friendly Giant’s Birthday – both signed “To Dianne, from Friendly”! I was soooo excited! But there was more…
There was also a cassette tape. I raced out to the car and plugged it in (yes, I’m old, my car had a cassette player in it). This is the first thing I heard: The Friendly Giant – 02. Hello (I hope this works – I’ve never posted audio clips before.)
I had tears in my eyes. The Friendly Giant just said my name! And he liked my books! I was in heaven.
And then he did something really really incredibly awesome. He read my books aloud! Just to hear him introduce a book of mine, just as he did with all those other books I’d heard him read: The Friendly Giant – 04. Title
Now I was out and out crying. What a wonderful, kind, giant of a man! I can’t share Purple Hair? I Don’t Care with you because of copyright issues, but because The Abaleda Voluntary Firehouse Band is out of print, I can share that one: The Friendly Giant – 06. Abaleda
Then (and I still get tears in my eyes hearing this) here’s how he ended the tape: The Friendly Giant – 08. Goodbye
I sobbed. It took me 10 minutes to get my act together enough to drive to work! Then I took the tape in and played it for my co-workers and cried some more!
What an incredible gift! What an incredible man!
So now you can see why I was so excited to discover his biography. The Friendly Giant (aka Bob Homme) died in 2000 at the age of 81.
Do you have fond memories of The Friendly Giant? I’d love to hear them. And here’s an idea…
I think The Friendly Giant deserves to be on Canada’s Walk of Fame. If you agree, please nominate him here.
And pass the word around! Thanks.
Amazing story, Diane! That is so cool!
Hi! Wow! I can just feel the tears of joys in your eyes…as my eyes teared up just reading this blog post. I, too, grew up with the Friendly Giant! Loved the show, and the man! What an honor for you to have him acknowledge your wonderful books by reading them aloud for you. I can only imagine your joy!
I love your blog! (I shared it with my father-in-law who is an avid bird watcher.) Great bird pictures!
Take care.
I am so grateful that a friend shared this link on Facebook. I have tears in my eyes just reading your post, and I haven’t even listened to the audio clips yet. I wonder if there is a child of our vintage anywhere in Canada who doesn’t have fond memories of Friendly?
A couple of years ago, I took a picture book writing class, and as I read one of the books assigned, I realized I was hearing it in my mind in Friendly Giant’s voice. It must have been one of the wonderful books Rusty brought out of the bookbag for Friendly to read.
Thank you for this wonderful post!
I could only watch the Friendly Giant if I ws allowed to stay at home “sick”, usually mondays, because that was my mom’s day off! I loved that show too, “and I’ll call Rusty”. Jerome was a bit gangly for the little window, was’t he!
Hi Dianne,
I too loved Friendly! He enriched the lives of hundreds of thousands of children over many years. Thank you for sharing your story, it was wonderful to hear Friendly’s voice reading your book. I also nominated him to Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Even though I heard your story about Friendly before, it still brought the tears. Most of my seven girls grew up with him. In fact, I must send them this chance to vote. It will be neat to hear of their memories. I remember his calming voice – one that invited a child to sit and listen. Thanks for sharing, Dianne.
Since my name is also Diane, I got a thrill hearing him say it, too! My children always watched it, and I sat with them. One day the CBC decided to pre-empt the show and replace it with “Shakespeare for Housewives”! My two-year-old sobbed in disappointment. I phoned the local CBC station and challenged the woman to explain to my little toddler why Shakespeare was more important than his giant. Of course she couldn’t. However she took his name and address and a few days later little Steve received a glossy photo of Friendly, Jerome & Rusty. It made his day.
Wonderful story Dianne! I loved Friendly, too! I had his record as well, and when he wasn’t on the t.v., I listened to the record. My first rock star!
I nominated him, too! By the way, I loved your book…don’t you just love the way he could read a book! His “swing” is the real deal!
I heard about how you were trying to get Bob nominated for the Walk of Fame today on CBC radio and I remembered the Giant sized crush I had on him. I have nominated him and have urged all my friends that remember growing up with him to do the same. I hope that we are successful. Cheers
Dianne,
Thanks for posting this and sharing such a treasured recording. What an amazing man! Listening to him read your book was an absolute time travel moment, back to the rocking chair (my favorite if I was watching by myself). Great book, too! He was quite right, it swings!