What Types of Gifts Do You Like to Give Other People's Kids?

Right now, I'm shopping for my nieces -- something I absolutely love to do. (I don't have any nephews, so I don't have the opportunity to shop for any boys, except for my own three.)

I'm going to be a bit cryptic here, because at least one of the people on my list is now old enough to use the Internet, and I don't want her to discover what she's receiving until the time is right. But I'd like to share my gift picks with you nonetheless. I hope you'll click through to see what I've picked and that you'll share some gift ideas of your own to help out other people who are trying to come up with gift ideas for other people's kids.

• For two young sisters (3 and 6): this and this.
• For a young preteen girl: this.
• For an almost-teen who is very well read: this.

Yes, there's a common theme in my gift picks. But what would you expect an aunt who is a writer to buy for her nieces? Something like this?