MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE....

A Blast from the Past - SLADE - uplifting spirits...

wishing you all a          Merry Christmas....  

and a very successful 

NEW YEAR for 2012

from the team at HPM MEDIA LTD.,

http://www.hpmmedialtd.com

Posted by Kul Cuthbert

Christmas Dinner.

THURSDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2011

The Hairy Plug Monster has Christmas Dinner 

written by  Leighroy Marsh.....               ☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃

Last Christmas I was invited to Hillcrest Grammar School to give a reading to the reception class, Mrs Griffiths who was their teacher at the time had read her grandson's copy of the HPM - and loved it.  The kids were brilliant and a couple had even bought in their copies for me to sign.   As a special treat, Mrs Griffiths asked if I would write a little Christmas poem, and so I did.

The Hairy Plug Monster has Christmas Dinner

As she stood by the tree, Maya’s eyes opened wide,

There were stars hung all over with chocolates inside,

Tinsel and baubles, with lights wrapped around,

And even more presents that lay on the ground.

On the shelf by the fire -Dad placed a mince pie -

With a nice juicy carrot, so Maya asked “why”?

You need to leave food for the reindeer”, dad said,

“And Father Christmas wants mince pies, to keep himself fed.

Climbing up and down chimneys, All night isn’t fun,

And he can’t take a break ,when there’s work to be done,

Perhaps you can help?”,dad said with a laugh

“With the Hairy Plug Monster ,Who lives under the bath”

Maya thought for a while

And she smiled and then said -

“Maybe I could…”

And then went off to bed.

A few hours later,

Maya hadn’t slept,

So into the bathroom,

She silently crept.

The Hairy Plug Monster,

Was sat by the soap,

With a floppy red stocking,

All tied up with rope.

Maya asked once again -

“Do you fancy a feed? ”

And the Hairy Plug Monster,

Smiled and agreed.

“We’ve got Mince Pies and chocolates

and a huge Christmas Cake.

There’s even a turkey,

All ready to bake”.

So they tiptoed downstairs,

and walked through the hall,

straight to the kitchen,

to the fridge by the wall.

Maya opened the door,

and they both peeked inside,

And the Hairy Plug Monster’s

One Eye opened wide.

There on the shelf was a large plate of jelly,

A trifle,

and pudding

and cheese that was smelly.

There was mince pies and chocolates,

And cranberry jam,

Sprouts and Potatoes,

And a big piece of ham.

The Hairy Plug Monster,

Jumped onto the shelf,

And in no time at all -

He was helping himself.

Maya said to her friend,

“That’s all we’ve got,

i’ts Christmas tomorrow,

And you cant eat the lot”.

But the Hairy Plug Monster,

Didn’t reply, he was already munching,

On a tasty mince pie.

He tried out the pudding, and some of the cake.

And then all the sprouts,……….

Yuk…!!!!!!!

What a mistake.

Yuk –yuk yuk yuk

What a funny old taste.

He didn’t like sprouts,

And curled up his face.

The hairy plug monster,

Was hungry no more, 

And sat down and sulked,

On the cold kitchen floor.

Maya thought and then said,

“I know just what to do,

Father Christmas is coming,

He’ll be here very soon”.

They went to the front room,

And both peeked inside,

And The Hairy Plug Monster’s one eye,

Opened Wide.

There by the fire was a man dressed in red,

With a big floppy hat,

That was hung from his head.

His belt and his boots were shiny and black,

And down by his side was a huge great big sack.

“Hello Father Christmas”,

said Maya with charm,

And she held out a mince pie

at the end of her arm.

“I’ve come here to help

and make sure that you’re fed

You can sit down and rest while - everyone’s in bed.”

Father Christmas sat down, with the pie on his knee,

While Maya placed presents around the big tree.

“Thank you” said Santa, and started to yawn,

“It’s time that I went, 

for soon it is dawn”

Father Christmas got back, on his magical sleigh

Gave a carrot to Rudolph, and then flew away.

The Hairy Plug Monster needed a nap,

so he crept back upstairs

And squeezed back through the tap.

His stocking was full of presents and toys,

And a small yellow duck - that made a strange noise.

“What’s that noise?”, 

said her dad the next day with a shout

“There’s a noise from the hole where the water runs out”

“You know who that is” Maya said with a laugh

“That’s the Hairy plug Monster…..who lives under the bath”.




visit our website for more news and updates :   http://www.hpmmedialtd.com


Posted by Kul Cuthbert

teaching kids to read!

FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2011

taken from the Hairy Plug Monster Blogspot by Leighroy Marsh.... for HPM Media Ltd...

http://hairyplugmonster.blogspot.com/

Can you do this?

After the dissapointment of the teaching awards, Jim and I have decided to push ahead with the series of books regardless.  Given the speed that Jim can provide the illustrations, we should have half of the series completed pretty soon.  At the moment we are meeting during his dinner break each week and trading ideas on the choice of 'pallette' for the characters - the image above is just part of several that we are considering.

I have been given the first 45 key words that children learn to recognise in reception and another 100 that they are expected to know by the end of Y3.  Having to write using a restricted vocabulary is a skill in itself, but thankfully one I posses -  

I was a reading recovery assistant for a short period of time this year, and one thing I noticed that really used to wind me up is that Publishers are getting away with murder when it comes to producing educational reading books for KS1.

Both Jim and myself are intent on avoiding the same traps that others succumb to and are trying to create an  almost 'Seusslike' series of books instead of producing the same 2 dimensional rubbish that my daughter used to bring home when she first started to read. 

CAT     DOG    TORTOISE  etc

aaarrgh!!!!!  I am sure you must have seen them - they usually open with a small word like DOG and then without any consideration for the reader, they will throw in a word like TORTOISE and expect the child to be able to recognise the word just by showing a picture. I don't know about you but Tortoises are pretty rare where we live and it's really hard to be able to explain the difference between one and a picture of a Mutant Ninja Turtle. (except for the mask)

if you wish any more information please drop us a line from our contact page...

http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/contact-us.html 

we would like to know your views on this subject...

for more news and updates 

visit  -      http://www.hpmmedialtd.com

The Hairy Plug Monster and what our readers say.... 


review page : 

http://www.thehairyplugmonster.com/2.html 


visit : http://www.hpmmedialtd.com
for more news and updates....

what a great review.... HPM Media Ltd

WHAT A GREAT REVIEW

The Hairy Plug Monster   

from :   LEANNE MCGINTY 

The Hairy Plug Monster
by   Leighroy Marsh

illustrated by Samuel Perry

I must admit when I first heard the title of this book I was a bit put off. I was honestly afraid of what I would find. However, when I opened the book I was pleasantly surprised. I hope you enjoy the review.

Story: 4
The story rhymes throughout and is in the style of the great Shel Silverstein.  It starts off with Maya hearing a noise coming from the drain in her bathtub. When she asks her dad he explains that it is none other than the hairy plug monster. The story is very engaging due to the catchy rhythm. The content was very creative and original. I love how the author went into detail on what the hairy plug monster eats. I would recommend the content for kindergarten and up as it is a bit advanced for the little ones. The only truly bad thing I have to say about the book, is that it ended. I hope that the author comes out with a sequel as the end was a bit abrupt. I strongly suggest you visit Leighroy Marsh’s blog at   http://hairyplugmonster.blogspot.com/

Illustrations: 4

The illustrations are very good. They maintain consistency throughout the entire book and are very detailed.  There are items in the background that I didn’t even notice on the first read through. The hairy plug monster is illustrated as a rotund figure covered in hair. He’s not scary, which I like. Kids will think he is funny and perhaps even look for him in their own drains. I really enjoyed the illustrations of Maya as well. She was depicted as a curious little girl with pigtails. I think children will relate to her and want to read the book again and again.

Format: 4

The format of the book is really good. I like that the text is highlighted in certain areas to emphasize different words. It gives a really bubbly effect to the text. What I mean by that is that it enhances the bounce of the rhyme.

The Overall Ahgoo Review rating is: 4

Hairy Plug Monster

Leighroy Marsh

http://ahgooreview.com/2011/07/hairy-plug-monster/    








available as an ebook... 


follow the link and buy a signed copy 


http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/the-hairy-plug-monster.html


your still in time for christmas...

one for christmas!

A VISIT TO GRANDMA'S - from HPM Media children's books

5th December 2011

Just a teaser from author/songwriter
LEIGHROY MARSH



A VISIT TO GRANDMA'S

Were going to Grandmas

Dad called out to Maya

Who was sat reading books

Keeping warm by the fire

So pack up your toothpaste

Your toothbrush and clothes

your pink fluffy slippers

With the extra large rose

Can the Hairy Plug Monster

Come too? Maya asked

As she reached for the toothpaste

At the side of the bath,

"Of course!" said her dad

As he finished his tea,

He can sit in the front

With your mother and me.                    

So Maya bent down

And called out to her friend

“Do you want to see grandma

And stay the weekend?”

The Hairy plug monster

Appeared with a case

And a large floppy hat

that just covered his face…. 

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE www.hpmmedialtd.com  you can purchase 


THE HAIRY PLUG MONSTER  (the first of a great series) 


BUY on line @ http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/the-hairy-plug-monster.html

as an ebook..... 


or you can order a copy from your local book store WATERSTONES  


THE HAIRY PLUG MONSTER & MAYA is full of adventure and fun 


A FEW NOTES WHAT OUR READERS THOUGHT:-
http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/reviews.html

❄

Since its publication in 2009, The Hairy Plug Monster has been entertaining parents, teachers and children up and down the country. Written in easy flowing verse and brilliantly illustrated by Samuel Perry; The Hairy Plug Monster is quickly becoming a 

                                      MODERN DAY CHILDREN'S FAVOURITE….

 The story begins with a young girl called Maya, asking her dad about the noise that the bathwater makes when it goes down the plughole.  Her dad tells her that it is the Hairy Plug Monster who lives under the bath; who drinks the bathwater and eats bubble bath sandwiches.

That night when everyone else is asleep, Maya decides to go and find The Hairy Plug Monster and sneak downstairs to find something better to eat than a bubble bath sandwich

                        Purchase from our website and be in time for 

   〠...a great Christmas Stocking Filler...〠


http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/the-hairy-plug-monster.html

you won't be disappointed - it's full of fun for your young un's 

---

Posted by Kul Cuthbert

Great Childrens Books and eBooks… from HPM Media Ltd

The Hairy Plug Monster and Maya...

eBooks and eBook Downloads at Waterstones.com

get your copy and be in time for Christmas

better still download from our website @
visit :      http://www.hpmmedialtd.com










also for immediate download

'BE CAREFUL ETHEL'

http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/be-careful-ethel.html














coming soon :   'There's something wrong with Grandad'  
a collection of Spooky Tales
for age  7 upwards…. 




Posted by Kul Cuthbert

Children's Poetry Competition...

Children's Poetry Competition




Sunday 20th November, Leighroy (author/songwriter) 
has been asked to sit on the judges panel..... 
all the proceeds go to the 
Beechwood Cancer Care Charity 
Come along with the family
Children's poetry competition for ages 5-16yrs 
with £100 prize to be won all forms of 
Poetry are welcome 


Tickets are £6 for adults & £3 for concessions 
a buffet will be provided for the event 
Doors open 3.30pm event starts at 4pm-6pm There is bar at 
the venue to get drinks from. 
to book tickets please contact Emma: 07813615131 or 
email: emmalouisehothersall@hotmail.com 
Its at the Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club Mellor Road..... Manchester, UK


for more news and updates
visit :  http://www.hpmmedialtd.com
we publish great Children's Books all in verse! 

A DELICIOUS CHRISTMAS PUD....

YUMMY COOKING - PLAIN AND SIMPLE 

Here at HPM Media we love to cook - and today we have  a recipe for a delicious 

Christmas Pud for the Festive Holidays

☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃☃

A Delicious Christmas Pud

visit :   http://www.hpmmedialtd.com   -   for more news and updates...

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY...

something to share and remember!

BULLYING? 

Think you're SO cool? 

The girl you just called fat... She is overdosing on diet pills. 

The girl you just called ugly... 

She spends hours putting makeup on hoping people will like her. 

The boy you just tripped... He is abused enough at home. 

See that man with the ugly scars?... He fought for his country. 

That guy you just made fun of for crying... His mother is dying. 

Put this as you're FB status if you're against bullying. 

I bet 95% of you wont re-post, 

but I'm sure the people with heart and backbone will ♥ 

So think twice and ask yourself 

'what makes you so perfect'? 

thank you....

http://www.hpmmedialtd.com







copied and pasted from  my  FB page

Kul Cuthbert

A SIGN AND SHINE PROGRAMME….

Moving in yet another direction....

Last July, Kath Conwell the headteacher at Adswood Primary asked me to come in and meet her, as she had something that she wanted to discuss.  Well that's not strictly true, I actually rang her about visiting the school to perform a reading so I could be assessed by Siobhan from the Windows Project - but that's another story.

Anyway to give you a a little bit of background information, Adswood Primary School  is in a 'seriously underprivileged area of the borough and when Kath took over the school about 5 years ago - it was classed as a 'struggling school' with low levels of child literacy. 5 years down the line every child is a reader and the energy and enthusiasm for learning, displayed by the teachers, parents and pupils is phenomenal.  As I may have mentioned before, there is no other school quite like it.

During my time as a writer I have visited many schools across the North West and in many cases I have been lucky if the Head Teacher could be bothered to even say 'hello' let alone make an effort to learn my name.  Kath, however immediately struck me as someone who genuinely has the interests of the school at heart, and not where abouts they are on a government league table.  It is soley due to the dedicated efforts of herself and her team that the pupils are achieving great things. 

What has this got to do with me? I hear you ask...

Well...Kath has implemented a learning program that incorporatesMakaton Sign Language with the learning of the first key words and has given it the catchy title "Sign and Shine".  As this scheme is not officially sanctioned, it is taught alongside the incredibly surreal "Letters and Sounds" which concentrates more on the phonics.  (having seen both my girls grow up using this rubbish and having been a reading recovery assistant myself, albeit for a short while, I believe that on the whole it doesn't work and merely confuses children more than it assists.)

 Each year, Henry Winkler a.k.a "Fonzie" awards a bursary to a school which is already working in special needs and requires funding to support their existing outstanding work and as such Kath entered theSign and Shine program into the competition and should the school be successful then they would use the bursary to produce a range of learning materials for the program.  (this is where I come in)  on the application form she advised that a 'local children's writer' with close links to the school would be asked to produce a range of books so the program could be shared with similar schools throughout the region.  So on the same day that I rang up the school to see about a reading, Kath was informed that her application had made the final shortlist and the winners would be announced at the televised National Teaching Awards in  London on October 30th.

Naturally when Kath asked me if I would like to get involved I jumped at the chance, not just be because of the bursary but because I had seen Sign and Shine in action and knew that it really worked.  Writing a series of worthwhile educational books that could genuinely make a difference would give my own career a bit of credibility.   I thought of the many ways that Sign and Shine could be presented if I was given the opportunity i.e.  Digital Format with video links to actions, audio etc not forgetting the chance to be commissioned to write 12 books (possibly more).


Fast forward 3 months and I found myself on a coach going down to London together with another 15 or so assorted parents and teachers, to join Kath and several other members of staff who were going down on the train.

Before the award ceremony, we went to Bella Italia for some refreshments and half a bottle of wine and a sea bass later, I found myself outside the Palace Theatre in London waiting alongside a thousand or so real teachers all dressed up to our eyeballs.

*********
Unfortunately Adswood Primary didn't win, ( I have deleted an earlier piece I wrote on the award ceremony itself as it seemed too critical of a lot of things that happened that evening.) However, after speaking to Kath the following Monday she seemed adamant that they would secure the funding from somewhere....

Watch this space,

The Hairy Plug Monster 
Leighroy Marsh 
Samuel Perry

Since its publication in 2009, The Hairy Plug Monster has been entertaining parents, teachers and children up and down the country. Written in easy flowing verse and brilliantly illustrated by Samuel Perry; The Hairy Plug Monster is quickly becoming a modern day children's favourite.

The story begins with a young girl called Maya, asking her dad about the noise that the bathwater makes when it goes down the plughole.  Her dad tells her that it is the Hairy Plug Monster who lives under the bath; who drinks the bathwater and eats bubble bath sandwiches.

That night when everyone else is asleep, Maya decides to go and find The Hairy Plug Monster and sneak downstairs to find something better to eat than a bubble bath sandwich. 

http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/the-hairy-plug-monster.html

order a signed copy from our webpage above -  
contact us today and be in time for Christmas!  fabulous stocking filler... 


or download an ebook! 


great story for kids - aged  3 / 7years 


why not contact us today: 


http://www.hpmmedialtd.com/contact-us.html

'BE CAREFUL ETHEL' great book for kids

follow the antics of  Ethel, Maurice and Pierre - causing havoc around their poor old Grandma...
ebook version available -  visit the link - http://www.hpmmedialtd.com



we publish great books for kids...
for more info and news updates    visit :  http://www.hpmmedialtd.com

Posted by Kul Cuthbert

every child needs to read!!!!

Moving in yet another direction....

Last July, Kath Conwell the headteacher at Adswood Primary School  asked me to come in and meet her, as she had something that she wanted to discuss.     Well that's not strictly true, I actually rang her about visiting the school to perform a reading so I could be assessed by Siobhan from the Windows Project - but that's another story.


Anyway to give you a a little bit of background information, Adswood Primary School  is in a 'seriously underprivileged area' of the borough of Stockport  and when Kath took over the school about 5 years ago - it was classed as a 'struggling school' with low levels of child literacy. 


5 years down the line every child is a reader and the energy and enthusiasm for learning, displayed by the teachers, parents and pupils is phenomenal.  


As I may have mentioned before, there is no other school quite like it.


During my time as a writer I have visited many schools across the North West and in many cases I have been lucky if the Head Teacher could be bothered to even say 'hello' let alone make an effort to learn my name.  Kath, however immediately struck me as someone who genuinely has the interests of the school at heart, and not where abouts they are on a government league table.  It is soley due to the dedicated efforts of herself and her team that the pupils are achieving great things.   


What has this got to do with me? I hear you ask...


Well...Kath has implemented a learning program that incorporates Makaton Sign Language with the learning of the first key words and has given it the catchy title "Sign and Shine".  As this scheme is not officially sanctioned, it is taught alongside the incredibly surreal "Letters and Sounds" which concentrates more on the phonics.  (having seen both my girls grow up using this rubbish and having been a reading recovery assistant myself, albeit for a short while, I believe that on the whole it doesn't work and merely confuses children more than it assists.)


 Each year, Henry Winkler a.k.a "Fonzie" awards a bursary to a school which is already working in special needs and requires funding to support their existing outstanding work and as such Kath entered the Sign and Shine Program into the competition and should the school be successful then they would use the bursary to produce a range of learning materials for the program.  (this is where I come in)  on the application form she advised that a 'local children's writer' with close links to the school would be asked to produce a range of books so the program could be shared with similar schools throughout the region.  So on the same day that I rang up the school to see about a reading, Kath was informed that her application had made the final shortlist and the winners would be announced at the Televised National Teaching Awards in  London on October 30th.


Naturally when Kath asked me if I would like to get involved I jumped at the chance, not just be because of the bursary but because I had seen Sign and Shine in action and knew that it really worked.  Writing a series of worthwhile educational books that could genuinely make a difference would give my own career a bit of credibility.   I thought of the many ways that Sign and Shine could be presented if I was given the opportunity i.e.  Digital Format with video links to actions, audio etc not forgetting the chance to be commissioned to write 12 books (possibly more).




Fast forward 3 months and I found myself on a coach going down to London together with another 15 or so assorted parents and teachers, to join Kath and several other members of staff who were going down on the train.  


Before the award ceremony, we went to Bella Italia for some refreshments and half a bottle of wine and a sea bass later, I found myself outside the Palace Theatre in London waiting alongside a thousand or so real teachers all dressed up to our eyeballs.


                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Unfortunately Adswood Primary didn't win, ( I have deleted an earlier piece I wrote on the award ceremony itself as it seemed too critical of a lot of things that happened that evening.) However, after speaking to Kath the following Monday she seemed adamant that they would secure the funding from somewhere....

Watch this space,