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The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien
The first book in a hilarious new diary format series from Ross Welford, the bestselling author of Time Travelling with a Hamster.
'Great fun.' – The Observer
Prince Kalimonka Evergreen Wildgore – Prince Kal, to you – is in big trouble.
Two days ago, back in his home realm of Imaginaria, he stepped into the Anywhere Cabinet – a magical, interdimensional portal – and things did not go according to plan. He ended up here, on Planet Earth. Worse, his beloved (and extremely smelly) pet is missing, and unless he can recharge the Anywhere Cabinet, he’s stuck here forever.
Unfortunately, Earthlings don’t believe in magical cabinets, stranded princes, or Imaginaria at all. So Kal starts a diary – to record his adventures, make sense of this bizarre land of soup and hairy giants, and, just maybe, figure out a way home.
Incredibly funny, illustrated throughout with diary-style doodles, and with a hilarious, one-of-a-kind hero, The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien is the first book in a brilliant and unforgettable new series from Ross Welford, perfect for fans of Tom Gates, A Bad God's Guide to Being Good, and The Diary of a (Sort of) Hero.
'Great fun.' – The Observer
Prince Kalimonka Evergreen Wildgore – Prince Kal, to you – is in big trouble.
Two days ago, back in his home realm of Imaginaria, he stepped into the Anywhere Cabinet – a magical, interdimensional portal – and things did not go according to plan. He ended up here, on Planet Earth. Worse, his beloved (and extremely smelly) pet is missing, and unless he can recharge the Anywhere Cabinet, he’s stuck here forever.
Unfortunately, Earthlings don’t believe in magical cabinets, stranded princes, or Imaginaria at all. So Kal starts a diary – to record his adventures, make sense of this bizarre land of soup and hairy giants, and, just maybe, figure out a way home.
Incredibly funny, illustrated throughout with diary-style doodles, and with a hilarious, one-of-a-kind hero, The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien is the first book in a brilliant and unforgettable new series from Ross Welford, perfect for fans of Tom Gates, A Bad God's Guide to Being Good, and The Diary of a (Sort of) Hero.
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Published June 5, 2025
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About the author
Ross Welford
24 books315 followersRoss Welford is a British author of fantastic children's fiction.
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January 26, 2026
Prince Kalimonka Evergreen Wildgore of the Imaginaria Forests, didn’t mean for it to happen!
He was doing a good deed, as all good princes should, in rescuing an Oofus. One of its tails was broken during a storm, and Prince Kal took it back to his tutor’s tree-top Sorcery studio. This act of kindness kicks off the adventure of Kal’s life as he ends up with wet feet, on a stretch of sand in Northumberland, England.
Luckily, high born like himself, have received the Speak Easy Spell, and he can understand the creatures that discover him. They are smelly, enormous, and hairy. Some more than others.
They don’t believe anything he tries to communicate to them, including his Princely status. All they see is a hairless boy, aged eleven, but the size of a toddler.
Prince Kal decides the people he is left with, called his foster family, are safe enough for the meantime, and he will determine his way of escape as soon as possible.
Local authorities have found his pod portal (Anywhere Cabinet) on the beach, and are trying to figure out what it is. Prince Kal’s claims that it belongs to him, fall on deaf ears.
It’s only when one of the lessons his tutor Sorcerer Feliquoz comes to him, that he fights back. This kicks off a chain reaction of help that comes his way to enable him to go home.
But not before a local thug has stolen the frightened Oofus and something Prince Kal desperately needs. Help has also come from Imaginaria, but something very dangerous has slipped through too.
Will Kal ever get home?
Told in four parts, The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien is Ross Welford’s 10th book for middle grade readers. Each and every one is entertaining and this time, the main character is an alien – trying to figure out all the weird quirks of the humans he encounters.
Kal can mostly understand the Earthlings he meets in Ingle-Land, but according to Kal, we smell funny, are very large and have strange habits. High fives, hugs and rescuing their dog’s poo in little bags, are all confusing. The shiny square things with moving pictures, and then the huge ones in homes and outdoors, are downright terrifying! Electrickery is definitely Kal’s favourite.
Kal’s observations as an alien are funny, and will make readers think about our speech, sayings, and actions in a whole new way. I particularly enjoyed Prince Kal’s pompous consternation as he insists on his royal heritage without a beat, no matter what the so-called authorities do.
His Princely Principles (part of his exclusive education) are scattered throughout the book as he draws on them for each conundrum he finds himself in.
The ending is quite spectacular, and the next in the series promises to be even more engaging, as something extremely dangerous has been left behind.
Author – Ross Welford
Illustrator – Harry Briggs
Age – 8+
He was doing a good deed, as all good princes should, in rescuing an Oofus. One of its tails was broken during a storm, and Prince Kal took it back to his tutor’s tree-top Sorcery studio. This act of kindness kicks off the adventure of Kal’s life as he ends up with wet feet, on a stretch of sand in Northumberland, England.
Luckily, high born like himself, have received the Speak Easy Spell, and he can understand the creatures that discover him. They are smelly, enormous, and hairy. Some more than others.
They don’t believe anything he tries to communicate to them, including his Princely status. All they see is a hairless boy, aged eleven, but the size of a toddler.
Prince Kal decides the people he is left with, called his foster family, are safe enough for the meantime, and he will determine his way of escape as soon as possible.
Local authorities have found his pod portal (Anywhere Cabinet) on the beach, and are trying to figure out what it is. Prince Kal’s claims that it belongs to him, fall on deaf ears.
It’s only when one of the lessons his tutor Sorcerer Feliquoz comes to him, that he fights back. This kicks off a chain reaction of help that comes his way to enable him to go home.
But not before a local thug has stolen the frightened Oofus and something Prince Kal desperately needs. Help has also come from Imaginaria, but something very dangerous has slipped through too.
Will Kal ever get home?
Told in four parts, The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien is Ross Welford’s 10th book for middle grade readers. Each and every one is entertaining and this time, the main character is an alien – trying to figure out all the weird quirks of the humans he encounters.
Kal can mostly understand the Earthlings he meets in Ingle-Land, but according to Kal, we smell funny, are very large and have strange habits. High fives, hugs and rescuing their dog’s poo in little bags, are all confusing. The shiny square things with moving pictures, and then the huge ones in homes and outdoors, are downright terrifying! Electrickery is definitely Kal’s favourite.
Kal’s observations as an alien are funny, and will make readers think about our speech, sayings, and actions in a whole new way. I particularly enjoyed Prince Kal’s pompous consternation as he insists on his royal heritage without a beat, no matter what the so-called authorities do.
His Princely Principles (part of his exclusive education) are scattered throughout the book as he draws on them for each conundrum he finds himself in.
The ending is quite spectacular, and the next in the series promises to be even more engaging, as something extremely dangerous has been left behind.
Author – Ross Welford
Illustrator – Harry Briggs
Age – 8+
Displaying 1 of 1 review