Stand-up comedian, Saturday Night Live performer, voice actor—Melissa Villaseñor has a long résumé, and she’s proud to add children’s book creator to that list. Her graphic novel, Cat and Lola: School Picture Day (Gloo Books, Sept. 22), illustrated by Jimena Sánchez Sarquiz, centers on a young girl in search of the perfect getup for a class photo. Happily, Lola has the world’s best stylist at her disposal: Her divalike feline Cat (short for Catherine) agrees to be her “fashion fairy cat-mother.” Under Cat’s critical eye, Lola tries out a series of personae, from pirate to punk rocker, before finally landing on an outfit that truly speaks to her soul. Kirkus calls the book “vibrant, comedic encouragement to embrace one’s own style.” Villaseñor answered our questions via email.

What were your own school photo days like? Did you draw inspiration from real life?

My school photos were cute, but the high school ones were the most funny. I had shaved most of my eyebrows off (it was trendy, OK?!), and since my hair was so thick and curly, I would flat-iron it. There is this photo where I feel I resemble Lord Farquaad from Shrek. But it’s nice to look back on it now and laugh. 

What else inspired you during the writing of the book? What were you reading, listening to, watching?

I got inspired by [Cece Bell’s] Chick and Brain and [Mo Willems’] Elephant and Piggie books. I have been watching lots of movies! I am having a really big special year where I have had the honor to be in two Pixar movies (Hoppers and Toy Story 5), so seeing those films also reminded me how important it is to have heartfelt, funny, vulnerable characters for kiddos and adults alike! 

Lola is such a creative character—as is Cat! Both take on multiple personae. As a comedian known for impersonations, how did your own work inform the development of these two characters?

I feel Lola is almost a mini-me. Growing up, I was so focused on studying other people and impressions that it took me a while to figure out who I even was. I think finally I have arrived at that place. With Cat, it was sort of a mix of my late cat and this persona I made up for her, because her judgmental stares would crack me up when I would be doing something weird.

What made you decide to write a graphic novel (versus, say, a prose work)?

I decided to make a graphic novel because reading this book feels similar to watching a cartoon. You can feel the action and movement in it. I love that. I also want to say that I’m so grateful to the artist, Jimena Sánchez Sarquiz, for really knocking it out of the park with this! She made it even better than I can imagine.

What was most challenging about writing this book? And most rewarding?

The most challenging thing about writing this book—and writing anything—is really my own negative self-talk. I asked myself questions such as, Well, who am I to write a kids’ book? I don’t have a kid. Is this even any good? But ultimately, refocusing on why this book needs to happen and be shared helped me get back on track. It’s rewarding to know this will hopefully make kids laugh and celebrate their silly.

Mahnaz Dar is a young readers’ editor.