June 2003
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Young readers will learn that Charles Lindbergh flew solo across the Atlantic in 1927, going without sleep for 60 hours. He nearly plunged into the ocean. Most people feel the effects of sleep loss much sooner: weight lifters allowed only three hours of sleep one night couldn't lift as much weight the next day as they had previously. Other facts: yawns are contagious, though scientists still don't know why they occur. Crossing the line from waking to sleeping sometimes triggers hypnogogic hallucinations, making us see and hear things that aren't there. Trudee Romanek, a children's book editor and author, dishes up a feast of engaging facts and anecdotes about sleep, body clocks, dreams, and sleep disorders for middle and high school readers. People are creatures of habit, she explains, thanks in part to their biological clocks. She describes the function of the suprachiasmatic nuclei and parts of the brain that regulate sleep, and includes phonetic pronunciation of scientific terms. Easy-to-grasp drawings of brain anatomy, along with copious comic-book style illustrations, enhance the text. Sunlight serves as the body's most important time cue. Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus designed a garden clock in 1748, using plants that opened or closed their flowers at different hours. Bringing the message home, Romanek describes the delayed sleep pattern of teenagers, noting that some US high schools now start classes later to help students get the sleep they need. The book highlights Kleitman and Aserinsky's seminal discovery of Rapid Eye Movement, or REM, sleep, the state in which eyes dart beneath closed lids and most dreaming occurs. One of many "You Try It" sections sprinkled through the book tells readers to look for eyeballs darting back in forth in a sleeping cat or dog. It suggests timing a pet's REM period, and watching for twitching paws and ears. There's a cogent explanation of REM sleep paralysis, or atonia, which keeps sleepers from acting out their dreams. Another "You Try It" box offers tips on how to capture dreams. Romanek offers young readers reassurance that almost everyone has insomnia now and then, particularly if they're worried about a test, upset with a friend, or excited about a trip. She describes other disorders students may experience or witness, such as sleepwalking, recounting one 11-year-old's unintended train trip. She also discusses restless legs, sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. The book wraps up with stories of famous short sleepers, such as Edison—who maintained sleep is a waste of time but reportedly took long naps—and long sleepers, such as Einstein who liked to sleep 10 hours a night. That sets the stage for a reminder that teenagers need 9 to 10 hours of sleep each night, as much as or more than they got at age 11. This brainy little book would enliven any sleep clinic's waiting room. But it probably wouldn't stay there long. |
© 2003
WebSciences and Lynne Lamberg |
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