Why Do We Sleep?

Everything you ever wanted to know about sleep but were too exhausted to ask.

 

 

We spend around a third of our lives sleeping. But what actually happens during those hours? This book takes you on a fascinating journey through the land of nod andout the other side.

 

• What are circadian rhythms and how do they affect our energy levels throughout the day?

• What are dreams for and how do they happen?

• What are the different stages of sleep?

• Do animals experience sleep the same way we do?

 

With clear texts and bright, distinctive illustrations, this is a great introduction to a subject that has fascinated us since ancient times, and an engaging tie-in to biology andnatural sciences curriculums.

 

 

• Shorlisted for the 2026 UKLA Book Awards

 

• "A fact fan’s delight. Whether you’re into science or animals, selfdiscovery or folklore, this book won’t disappoint!" – SLA Award Shortlist

 

 

THE AUTHORS

 

Cathy Evans is a vet and a writer living in Bournemouth. She is the author of Cat Eyes and Dog Whistles (Cicada, 2021) and Mama Mammals (Cicada, 2023).

 

 

THE ILLUSTRATOR

 

Polya Plavinskaia is a London-based illustrator and art director. She has designed and illustrateddozens of books for publishers including Samokat, Quarto and Bloomsbury. She was a 2023 winner ofthe Bologna Bookfair Illustrators’ Exhibition.

She is a 2025 finalist of the Golden Pinwheel Competition (Shanghai Book Fair) with an illustration from WHY DO WE SLEEP?