Photo by Luis de León Díaz

In speaking about the first subject in Margarita Engle’s Hopeful Heroes: More Poems About Amazing Latinos (Macmillan/Godwin), female tribal chieftain Anacanoa of the Taíno people, illustrator Juliet Menéndez praised the beautiful ways Latinx cultures have preserved their own histories. “During the time of colonial occupation, they were burning down much of our culture and history. [The arts] became this way of maintaining that history, literally alive.”

The work (and its translation) is a companion to Engle's Bravo! (2017) illustrated by Rafael López. Each volume profiles Latinx people who have contributed to history, such as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Simón Bolívar, and Pelé. The poems also highlight folks who aren’t traditionally put on pedestals but are just as resilient and worthy of recognition. Says Menéndez, “We have this idea of ‘heroes’ as one person who made a huge change, but we often don’t tell the stories of regular people, like nurses, who make sure that the revolution can happen. There are more humble ways to show up and be part of the changes you want to see.”

Her own Latinitas (2021) heralded 40 influential Latinas in a collective biography. The the idea grew out of her work as a bilingual and art teacher in New York City schools where she would make up stories for her first graders and illustrate them.

Menéndez divides her time among Guatemala City, New York City, and Paris, and her art style has been influenced by her studies there. She counts art by Guatemalan Cubist Carlos Mérida and Italian graphic designer Fortunato Depero as inspirations and has always been drawn to poster art and lithography. These styles and influences combine and emerge as Menéndez’s hand-drawn watercolor illustrations. Whether working on images for her own text or those written by others, she throws herself into the research, looking for a personal connection. “Every project is unique, and even though it’s still my style, I find myself reinventing myself each time.”

Research is a big part of her process, she says, calling herself a big nerd. Her other interests bleed into her work. “I do love playing piano. I’m really into the blues and jazz,” she says. “I find that rhythm makes its way into my books.”

She’s working on her first solo picture book, slated for 2026. It’s a personal story based on her own life and the influences that led her to becoming an artist. It also reflects her struggles with perfectionism at a young age. “The most surprising thing I’ve learned while creating works for children is that you might change the context, but the feelings that kids struggle with are often the same feelings adults struggle with.”