Jingle Baba, The Happiest Camel

Jingle Baba the Happiest Camel is a heart-warming story for children of all ages based on true events about an amazing camel who came to California from the London Zoo.

Throughout history there have been many inspiring stories about non-humans who have sought the company of great saints and spiritual beings—for example, Ramana Maharshi's beloved cow Lakshmi, Meher Baba's dogs, as well as the many non-humans who flocked to St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Stories about animals with exceptional sensitivity to the Spirit, to what is beyond and greater than conventional life, have appealed to all people, no matter what culture or religion. Just so, the story about the camel Jingle Baba will delight people of all ages and cultures.

Rita has been a professional editor and writer for over 30 years, having graduated from New York University in creative writing. When she was younger, she trained as an opera singer at the Juilliard School and at Eastman School of Music.

In 1997, when she took a ride on Jingle Baba at Fear-No-More Zoo in California, she fell in love with the camels. In her spare time she started photographing and spending a lot of time with Jingle Baba and his growing family. She couldn't help but tell her young grandchildren and other children about them. Soon Rita found herself writing a children's book about her experience.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Rita now lives with her husband and dog Roxanne in Northern California, where she still volunteers as much time as possible at Fear-No-More Zoo.