KIDS/SNEAK PEEK 'MARIPOSA' LULLS IN 2 LANGUAGES.

Byline: - Nancy Hewitt

In preparing her new bilingual CD ``Mariposa (Butterfly): Latin American Lullabies and Songs of Tranquility for the Whole Family,'' Juanita Newland-Ulloa intended to offer music to help kids ``go inward'' and relax, as they tend to zone out with all the stress in their lives.

And if she could help other family members become more comfortable with listening to bilingual music, that would be a plus, too.

Newland-Ulloa has succeeded on both levels. The 17-song CD is composed mostly of her own material but includes several adaptations of familiar Latin songs such as ``Senora Santana,'' ``La Golondrina'' and ``Arrurru Mi Nino Chiquito.''

She has also created a delightful lullaby called ``Ven Pastorcito,'' which is interpreted bilingually and is based on the classical theme of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony.

But some of the best songs on the album are the songs she wrote herself. ``Para Cristina'' is a song dedicated to her young daughter. ``Angelito - Little Angel'' is another of the songs performed bilingually, as is ``Mariposa.'' `` `Mariposa' is completely composed in English and in Spanish,'' Newland-Ulloa says. Both versions are included on the album.

``Mariposa'' is also the third volume in the ongoing ``Canta Conmigo'' (Sing With Me) series. But it is the first truly bilingual album.

``On all my CDs, I always have at least one or two songs that are English,'' Newland-Ulloa says. ``In volume two, there's a bilingual medley of Panamanian songs I grew up with.''

The classically trained singer, composer and musician has her own group, Juanita & Picante Ensemble, known for a California contemporary mariachi sound. And, Newland-Ulloa reports, theirs is the only musical group with a complete Latin American song repertoire for children.

Newland-Ulloa also has another CD series that focuses on Latin female composers. ``Mujeres'' (Women) is a tribute to Mexican women romantic composers and ``Mujeres & Mariachi'' shares the mariachi tradition.

She is currently working on volume three of this series, called ``Mujeres, Mariachi & Mexico,'' also done in the mariachi style by women composers. ``A lot of music composed by women is not being recognized,'' Newland-Ulloa says. ``Men (especially mariachis) have been very insular about just singing with men, although there are female singers.''

A Latin Christmas album is also in the works.

There are several distributors carrying Newland-Ulloa's albums, songbooks or cassettes. You can log on to amazon.com, order by phone from Professional Media Service Corp./Baker & Taylor: [phone], or order directly from Ulloa Productions: [phone], Web site: www.juanitamusic.com. Suggested list price for CD is $17; cassettes $14; songbooks with a teacher's guide, $14.95.

Mime and music

Kids and their families are invited to the third annual Family Festival presented by the Magic Circle Mime Company. The Pasadena Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Rachel Worby, accompanies the mimes in a rousing version of ``Peter and the Wolf'' at 7 p.m. Saturday at Descanso Gardens.

For kids of every age, the Nesquik bunny will make an appearance and there will be numerous activities including a petting zoo, clowns, face painting and more before the concert.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 children 14 and under. To order tickets: [phone]. Descanso Gardens is at 1481 Descanso Drive in La Canada Flintridge.

Write, write, write!

Kids ages 11 to 18 are invited to enter the Teen Comic Age Writing Contest 2000 sponsored by the Los Angeles Public Library.

There will be cash prizes from $50 to $150 awarded. Entry forms are available at the Sherman Oaks Branch Library, 14245 Moorpark St. Information: [phone].

Classical gas

To open the second annual ``Concerts in the Green'' family music series presented by the Pasadena Symphony, the String Family Players perform at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena.

Concertgoers are invited to bring picnic food to enjoy on the outdoor lawn, and they can also tour the museum before the concert between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Tickets for this event are $5 per person, age 1 year and older, and can be purchased in advance or at the door.

To order tickets and/or picnic dinners, call [phone]. Kidspace Children's Museum is at 390 S. El Molino Ave.