MouthSounds: How to Whistle, Pop, Click, and Honk Your Way to Social Success

by Frederick R. Newman, Marty Norman (Illustrator), Jerry Darvin (Photographer)

No more boring parties! No more dull meetings! No more getting stuck with a little kid and not knowing how to make her laugh. Perfect for extroverts, office cutups, actors and storytellers, practical jokers, and the unsung clowns who brighten all our days, MouthSounds is the book for people who would give anything to imitate a Toilet Plunger. Or a Sports Car Smash and Crash (with debris and rolling hubcap). Sound like Gollum while reading Lord of the Rings to a favorite nephew. Have meaningful dialogue with your dog. Hold the table spellbound by acting out " The Movie" in ten seconds.Since he wrote the first MouthSounds in 1980, Fred Newman whistled, popped, boinged, and honked his way to social success, creating noises and sounds for dozens of movies. He's continued to perfect his very particular art, touring with Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion and appearing regularly on PBS's Between the Lions . And behold--Arena Cheers and Applause, please!--the new MouthSounds , featuring more than 150 useful noises to make with your mouth . . . melodious, whimsical, and rude, too. The Taxi Whistle. The Cell Phone Ring. The Stomach Growl. Birds, Banjos, and Rock Guitars. Complete with photographs and illustrations, step-by-step instructions, plus an enhanced CD and tips on where and when to perform for maximum impact--yoga class, first date, job interview, press conference.

Genres: Humor, How To, Nonfiction

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Mike Spinak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as the title of the book suggests, Mouthsounds gives instructions how to make all kinds of (non-obvious) sounds with your mouth. Who doesn't want to learn that? I've certainly benefitted, in terms of new sound making abilities, from this book. I think any kid and most adults could. It's an unusual subject, and I'm not sure I've ever seen any other book on the topic. I should note that some of the sounds discussed in the book remain sadly beyond my abilities. Nonetheless, I am appreciative for the ones I've learned.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just honked like a truck and one of my kids freaked out. Fun book!

[JM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dogs don't bark OUT of their mouths; they bark IN. Try growling an R sound with an intake of breath instead of an exhale. Now turn the R into a loud RUFF. Your actual dog will flip out when he hears you speaking his native tongue. No idea what he thinks you're saying.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mastered the dripping-water sound at age 17, with no help from Frederick R. Newman, but came across his book soon after - the (ahem) first edition, with a floppy plastic 45 rpm record demonstrating the noises - and learned the secret to authentic-sounding barking. I could have been the next Michael Winslow if things had gone a bit differently.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

For Reading Rainbow: "Mama Don't Allow"
SO detailed and most are pretty challenging - perhaps better for older kid - at least one more motivated. The library's version didn't have a soundtrack - and that made a big difference too I think.