Dolphin Boy — Michael Morpurgo

Jim lives in a fishing village -- but no one goes fishing anymore as all the fish have gone. One day, Jim spots a dolphin beached on the sand. He runs to get help and everyone works together to return the dolphin to the water. Afterwards, the dolphin stays in the harbor, playing with the swimmers -- and it even carries Jim on its back. Then the dolphin disappears, and everyone is so sorrowful that they take out a boat to see if they can find him. Suddenly, the sea is boiling with dolphins leaping out of the water. They have come to stay -- and the village comes to life -- with tourists, and money, and mended boats, and dolphins!