The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 58

E16 CALENDAR LOSANGELESTIMES THE READING ROOM This large bronze disc is called a portrait medallion. The word is related to an object that honors a person or historical event. A medallion is like a medal, butlarger. It usually has a design on only one side. This medallion looks like a coin but it be used for money.

It was created to record the appearance of a personbefore there were photographs. Look closely at the portrait on the medallion. It represents the sultan Mohammad, also called MehmedII. The Latin words around the portrait identify him. The numerals also tell us the medallion was made in 1481.

What other details do you notice? Mehmed was the ruler of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East. He wanted to enlarge his empire. One of the cities he defeated was Constantinople, the capital of the Roman Empire. Today that city is called Istanbul. Although Mehmed was in power during a time of war, he was a scholar and a supporter of the arts.

The sultan asked artists who lived in Italy to come to his palace and work. Costanzo da Ferrara, who made this medallion, was one of the artists who went to palace. Around the time this medallion was made, kings, sultans and popes were important supporters of the arts. Many of the works of art we know today were created because these wealthy people paid artists to work for them. If you were a king or queen, what works of art might you request? If an artist made a medallion for you, what event would you want to be represented? You can see this medallion and other works of art when you visit the European art galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

For more information call (323) 857- 6512or visit www.lacma.org This Learning Link was provided by the education department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. CALIFORNIA CLASSROOM portrait was cast to last Museum PROFILE: Aportrait medallion of Mehmed II, ruler of the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East. By Lael Littke Special to The Times EVIN and Carlos and Danny and I were excited when we saw that someone was moving into the little brown house in our neighborhood. We hung around, watching to see if the new people had any kids or dogs. hope a guy our Danny.

hope he owns a tiger or a python or maybe a I didtoo. Our street is so boring. But our new neighbor turned out to be just one person. She was old, with gray hair and thick glasses. We heard the moving men call her Mrs.

Toomey. We even wait to meet her. hoped it would be somebody real Carlos mourned as we slouched away. Kevin kicked a rock. that.

Mrs. Toomey is as exciting as a spelling we all agreed. go to my Carlos said. can watch a video about wish I could be an Danny said. have my name in the newspapers and we all agreed, then sighed with boredom.

That evening my mom took one of her super-special macaroni-and- cheese casseroles to Mrs. Toomey as a welcome. When she came home, she said, you and your friends get acquainted with Mrs. Toomey, Jack? a very interesting I yawned. interesting about find Mom said.

I said. would I say to eyebrows went up. could say, happy to have you on our street, Mrs. Or, I mow your lawn for you, Mrs. that for I sighed.

Mom, I I said. Tuesday: Why does mother want him and his friends to meet Mrs. Toomey? This story will be on The website at latimes.com/kids Boring Part 1 Katie Sauceda Los Angeles Times HEATHCLIFF By George Gately DENNIS THE MENACE By Hank Ketcham FAMILY CIRCUS By Bil Keane MARMADUKE By Brad Anderson MUTTS By Patrick McDonnell PEANUTS By Charles M. Schulz Kids, to take part in a feature on this page, write to Reading Room, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st Los Angeles, CA 90012; or fax to (213) 237-5946; or e-mail Include your first and last name, age, school and the city in which your school is located.

Get published The Reading Room encourages submissions from children for the following features: Book Reviews by Kids, Question Corner, Jokes Riddles and Creativity Corner. Submission guidelines Submissions should be brief and are subject to editing. Drawings should be in color and on unlined paper. Make sure you do all the work yourself. How to write to us Why did the computer cross the road? To get a byte to eat.

Shaniqua Compton Elementary, Compton What travels around the world but always stays in the corner? A stamp. Adam, 7 The Buckley School Sherman Oaks Kids, send us your funny jokes and puzzling riddles. Jokes Riddles 06RB9038-HDDB.