The dolphin's boy - Pascale Noa Bercovitch

Abid'allah, a Bedouin boy, was left completely deaf after falling out of a tree at the age of five. Growing up, he was a loner, who spent much of his time swimming in the crystal waters of the Red Sea. One day a dolphin joined him - and from then on never left his side. This was remarkable, for dolphins usually prefer to live in groups, communicating in their own sound language. But this one seemed never to make a noise, and was also evidently a loner....The first word Abid'allah was to speak was 'olin' - the word 'dolphin' being the same in his own dialect as it is in English - and this became the name of his dolphin friend, who had given him confidence, love and respect which encouraged him to speak again. When Olin is in danger, Abid'allah is swift to protect her; if other dolphins are caught in a fishing net, Olin seeks Abid'allah's help.Their story has attracted scientists, film crews and journalists from around the world, but this is the first book to explore this remarkable friendship.

'A fairy tale for the ecological age.' Daily Mail