As a kid I helped build a contraption that involved a marble or ball bearing moving over bridges and teeter totters to create a cool series of chain reactions. Post the toys on E-Bay. Other than Harry Potter, the Stevie Diamond series by a Canadian writer is very good. My kids love reading what I read as a child. Girls that age would appreciate nail art, looms, journals.
Some people have a problem with giving colouring books to kids.
Children of that age should really be focusing on the experience - the big fat crayons, working with colour, blending, as opposed to trying to fit in the lines. The opportunity for art is to express yourself, and although there's nothing wrong with colouring books, there is not much of a challenge. There are no guidelines to follow, so the child is free to explore. Information on this toy will be posted later. Also Perfume Creations are top-notch.