Hummingbirds & other Miracles:
an ABC of Wonder

3rd in Alphabet series

Fascinating facts about the natural world and human behavior, including quotes, a liberal sprinkling of illustrations, children’s drawings, and graphics.

(excerpt)

70: Number of facial muscled needed to say one word.

Hummingbirds can fly forward, backward and even upside down, reaching speeds of up to 45 mph in a dive..

It’s a popular fact that 90 percent of the BRAIN is not used, and like most popular facts, it is wrong. . . It is used. One of its functions is to make the miraculous seem ordinary, to turn the unusual into the usual. Otherwise, human beings, faced with the daily wonderousness of everything, would go around wearing a stupid grin, saying “Wow,” a lot. Part of the brain exists to stop this from happening. It is very efficient, and can make people experience boredom in the middle of marvels.
Terry Pratchett