Prince Kal vs the Salivator Alligator

By Author / Illustrator

Ross Welford

Genre

Funny Stories

Age range(s)

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN

9780008755164

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-05-2026

Synopsis

The second book in the laugh-out-loud funny, diary-style Prince Kal series, from Ross Welford, the bestselling author of Time Travelling with a Hamster.

Prince Kal has finally managed to return safely to his home realm of Imaginaria - but unfortunately, he's left his chaotic younger sister Minkle behind on Earth.

And so, accompanied by his wizard mentor, a Pixie girl scout, and an ancient sword, Kal must return to Earth - and once again navigate the peculiar rules and customs that Earthlings live by - to rescue Minkle before she can cause too much trouble...

Incredibly funny, illustrated throughout with diary-style doodles, and with a hilarious, one-of-a-kind hero, Prince Kal is a brilliant and unforgettable new series from Ross Welford, perfect for fans of Tom Gates, Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good, and Hercules: The Diary of a (Sort of) Hero.

Also in the series: The Unlikely Diary of Prince Kal the Alien

Find out more in ReadingZone's indepth Q&A with author Ross Welford!

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Reviews

Beverley

In Prince Kal vs the Salivator Alligator, Prince Kal has managed to return safely to his home land of Imaginaria. Unfortunately, his sister Princess Minkle has been left behind on Earth and, due to a mix up, a Salivator Alligator egg has been hatched there. The creature does not belong on Earth and its presence there threatens the balance of Ember, the force that powers them all.

Kal's furious mother tells him he must go back, rescue Minkle and also kill the Salivator Alligator with his late father's sword. So Kal, his wizard mentor Lord Feliquoz, and an intrepid pixie girl scout named Dixie travel in the Anywhere Cabinet back to Bamburgh in Northumberland. Here they reconnect with the Macdonald family, who helped Kal on his previous visit there, and their quest begins.

This is the second installment in Prince Kal’s adventures, and I had not read the first book. However, the author does give a brief outline of the previous book at the beginning of the story, so the reader is quickly brought up to speed with previous events.

The novel is funny and fast-paced, with some great characters. Kal is a lovely hero, brave and determined, he is loyal to his friends and tries to follow his Princely Principles where he can. There are many returning characters from book one - I especially loved Missus Evie St Michael and her ice cream van! As well as the Salivator Alligator we are introduced to Gree, Kal's pet Oofus, who emits foul-smelling toxic clouds, and Frost Draggyns.

With its short chapters and brilliant diary-style illustrations by Harry Briggs, the book is very accessible and the action never flags. At the end of the story, we are given a strong indication that Prine Kal’s adventures are not yet over, which is very good news! Ross Welford is a lovely writer, and this book would be a great addition to any school library, and would be a fantastic book for a parent and child to share. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, School Librarian