Dogs by Emily Gravett Ages 2-6 32 pages Simon & Schuster February 2010 Hardcover     A wide array of dogs fill the pages of this picture book. Some are big; some are small. A few of them are noisy and bark a lot, while others are rather quiet. Shabby and chic, fast and slow: you'll find a yappy Chihuahua and a Dalmatian who loves to have his tummy tickled. By juxtaposing canine characteristics, the author creates a situation that gives your child some practice in identifying opposites, like hard and soft or hairy and bald. The book also has an amusing twist at the end that should elicit a chuckle or two. There really is no storyline here, but Gravett's delightful pencil and watercolor illustrations, along with the "opposite" theme, will make this a book your child will want to return to again and again.     web reviews   Bob Walch/2010 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)