  We investigate few-photon ionization of lithium atoms prepared in the
polarized 2$p$($m_\ell=\!+1$) state when subjected to femtosecond light pulses
with left- or right-handed circular polarization at wavelengths between 665 nm
and 920 nm. We consider whether ionization proceeds more favorably for the
electric field co- or counter-rotating with the initial electronic current
density. Strong asymmetries are found and quantitatively analyzed in terms of
"circular dichroism" ($CD$). While the intensity dependence of the measured
$CD$ values is rather weak throughout the investigated regime, a very strong
sensitivity on the center wavelength of the incoming radiation is observed.
While the co-rotating situation overall prevails, the counter-rotating geometry
is strongly favored around 800 nm due to the 2$p$-3$s$ resonant transition,
which can only be driven by counter-rotating fields. The observed features
provide insights into the helicity dependence of light-atom interactions, and
on the possible control of electron emission in atomic few-photon ionization by
polarization-selective resonance enhancement.
