Melissa Villaseñor may be best known as the first Latina repertory cast member of Saturday Night Live, but she’s embraced an individual creative identity that extends beyond comedy to music, drawing, and more.
Embracing your individual creativity is central theme in her forthcoming children’s book, Cat and Lola: School Picture Day (Gloo Books, September), which she introduced as a featured speaker June 28 at the American Library Association’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.
“This is the first day I’m seeing this, touching it, and smelling it, so this is so exciting!” she said of the printed book.
Creativity was always a part of her life, she said, and she was “always doodling” as a kid. But she opted not to illustrate her own book and instead turned to Jimena Sánchez Sarquiz. “We worked together on the style—she implemented some of my kind of art into hers,” Villaseñor said.
She discovered her gift for impersonation at 12 or 13, when she would imitate singers like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. That led to comedy, and within a few years, her parents were driving her to open mics.
She’s made a career out of making audiences of all ages laugh, but there’s something special about performing for children, she said. “I love making adults laugh, but when you make a kid crack up, that means you’re real funny, because they tell the truth.”
These days, she hopes to both amuse and inspire her young fans. “I’m in a place where I have nieces and nephews, and I want to help the youth and inspire them to be their true selves and make their dreams come true,” she said. Embracing your true self can be a daunting task for children, she acknowledged, but adults can help by encouraging them to experiment with different avenues for creativity. “You will stumble upon something that really lights your soul,” she promised.
Villaseñor has a special connection with Whittier (Calif.) Public Library, her hometown and childhood library. She spoke there last year about her first book, Whoops … I’m Awesome (Chronicle Books, 2022). She’s also made videos promoting the library’s Summer Reading club and supporting the Whittier Public Library Foundation.
“I love that anyone can go to the library, and that you feel safe and cozy in there, inspired by so many stories around you,” she said. “I think it’s the best.”
Villaseñor closed the session with a serenade, performing an a cappella verse from her song, “Life’s Better in Spanish,” which contrasts how mundane things like waking up to an alarm clock or eating plain oatmeal for breakfast sound more vibrant in Spanish.
