WHEN MARTHA'S AWAY

A hilarious take on a day in the life of a cat. Martha's cat, Lionel, has a full secret life and when he reveals all, it may be just what cat-lovers always suspected. Lionel keeps up with the newspaper (while seated on the toilet), prepares his own meals, performs at the piano, and maintains an extensive social schedule that includes painting Gladys, a voluptuous feline neighbor, and playing doctor with Audrey. Lionel also watches cartoons with lunch and works out. To keep up appearances, he pretends to be asleep on the sofa when Martha comes home. Oversized and irresistible, Ingman's first book features gestural paintings full of bright, bold colors, inventive typography, and a soupáon of sly humor. It will inspire laughs out loud from all readers, no matter what their ages. (Picture book. 4- 8)