Tahoe World interviews the author of “Monsters in the Woods.” Choice snippets:

14. Be a parent, not a wimp. Be positive and supportive of your child. Deal with the situation and move on. Kids look to you for strength and fortitude, so fake it.

15. Tell bad puns and scary stories.

16. Understand that dirt is o.k. and it is part of the fun.

20. Laugh, giggle, guffaw, whoop, titter, and chuckle as much as possible …

… because what kind of parent would you be if you were not an embarrassment to your children?