Penelope Torribio

Mermaid Review
Penelope Torribio is a uniquely talented songwriter, educator and gift to our planet. The artist knows how to reach the hearts of children of all ages with her imaginative, storytelling compositions, blending folk, blues and roots styles with 16 songs on her new cd, "Under the Blue Blue Sea." Penelope is well known for her teaching expertise with puppetry, storytelling and an eclectic lovefilled energy that lifts everyone's spirits about 6 feet higher when she performs on stage or visits with other songwriters or friends at events. The music production is pure magical simplicity featuring Penelope's voice and faithful "Willie Nelson strumming guitar" as her only companions on this recording. What makes "Under the Blue Blue Sea" standout from other children's music is it's brilliant way of blending a child's fairytale dream with the very adult reality of global warming, trash in the oceans and pollution in our air.

The accompanying Lyric and Coloring Book is complimented by the drawings and artwork of Penelope with puzzles by Suzanne Ross. Penelope is the narrator/singer who tells the story of a young girl who is asked to trade places with a mermaid, Mira, in "Mermaid Song". "Wouldn't it be cool, wouldn't it be fine, if we could trade places, some of the time?...Ride on a dolphin, meet all my friends, find pirate's treasure then trade back again?"

The story carries on throughout the cd where the little girl/mermaid (listener) learns a different lesson along the way about ecology from the various creatures in the ocean she meets. "Won't you miss the golden sand below you, the crash of the waves on the shore" the little girl/mermaid sings in "Watch What You Wish For". Performing the voices of all the diverse characters introduced throughout the storyline, Penelope is a delight conjuring up "Crash the Turtle" who heads up the ocean's "Trash Patrol" or "Crabby the Crab", or "Pearl the Oyster" or "Scar the Shark", each telling the little girl/mermaid their thoughts on what we're doing to their world, our world, "Under the Blue Blue Sea."

Th track, "Guardians of the Earth", says more for ecology awareness in 2 minutes then our leaders in government have said or done to remedy issues in the past 20 years. "It seems that people have been messin' with our planet, taking trees, air, water, all our land for granted." Penelope has created a website, www.beguardiansoftheearth.com, to encourage us to become part of her visionary "1 World Family" consciousness. A prolific poet/writer/dreamer and storyteller, Penelope has written several other children's books, and also a book of photography "Einstein in my Garden", with bug photos and bug poems. Her folk/country/blues music cd are also available on CD Baby and ITunes with links available through her portal site, www.penelopetorribio.com.

If you have someone who is young at heart, who likes to paint or color or dream while they listen to music they can hum along or sing to, learn positive lessons to share with others, or just plain relax in solitude, then "Under the Blue Blue Sea" would be a delightful addition to your library.

Toni K.

- Songsalive, Toni Koch

Your presentation was “best activity” for our event by other participants. Annual Community Literacy Fair, Shriners' Hospital for the Los Angeles and The
Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. Lee Ann Butler-Owens,Director



- Lullelee Publications.

Penelope has been called a female Jimmie Rogers for her ability to put real experiences into songs. She says that even when writing in the voices of dinosaurs (she writes children's musicals, as well as country, blues and folk), she tries to capture real feelings, like how it feels to be teased or to fly. Visit http://penelopetorribio.com to learn more about this vivacious, talented woman. Glen Horton - Creative Line, AHA! Artist Helping ARtist

Penelope's children's music have what numerous grownup albums have lacked: witty lyrics, catchy tunes...and a subject matter that truly matters. - L.A. Poetry Festival, Suzanne Lummis