Outside of writing

• Elementary school teacher, Meriden, KS, 1961—62
• Assistant director, Chi Alpha Student Center, Berkeley, CA, 1965—67
• Ordained interdenominational minister, 1966
• Director of student conferences and seminars, Inter-Church Team Ministries, Newhall, CA, 1967—69
• Elementary school teacher, Monroe Center, MI, 1969—71
• Junior high school mathematics teacher, Palmdale, CA, 1971—76
• Fireman, Volunteer Fire Department, Green Valley, CA, 1972—76
• Radio announcer, 1976—80
• High school teacher of social studies, Vergennes, VT, 1978—80
• Writer and editor, Hoffman Information Systems, 1972—74
• Editor, Children's Writer's E-News, 2003—06

Writing

Books

• Sealth: The Story of an American Indian, Dillon, 1978.
• The Rainmaker, Random House (New York, NY), 1980.
• Clowns: The Fun Makers, Messner, 1980.
• Wovoka: The Story of an American Indian, Dillon, 1980.
• Incredible Constructions and the People Who Built Them, Walker (New York, NY), 1984.
• Birds, Nests, and Eggs, NorthWord (Minnetonka, MN), 1996.
• Caterpillars, Bugs, and Butterflies, NorthWord (Minnetonka, MN), 1996.
• Rabbits, Squirrels, and Chipmunks, illustrated by Linda Garrow, NorthWord (Minnetonka, MN), 1996; 2nd. ed., Gareth Stevens (Milwaukee, WI), 2000.
• Fun with Nature, co-authored with Diane L. Burns and Leslie Dendy, illustrated by Linda Garrow, NorthWord (Minnetonka, MN), 1999.
• Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine, co-authored with Leslie Dendy, illustrated by C.B. Mordan, Holt (New York, NY), 2005.
• Flamingos, Loons, and Pelicans, illustrated by Andrew Recher, NorthWord (Minnetonka, MN), 2006.

Magazines

• Highlights for Children
• Young World
• Children's Playmate
• Cricket

Honors and awards

• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators of Iowa Award
• Booklist Top Ten Science Books for Youth designation (2005)
• Book Links Lasting Connections designation (2005)
• Subaru Science Books and Films Prize finalist (2006)
• American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults designation (2006)
• New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age designation (2006)

• Something About the Author v. 35, 1984, Gale Res, Anne Commire, Biography: Mel Boring, p.314.
• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators of Iowa Web site, "Mel Boring"(March 27, 2007)