I got my 9yr old a magazine subscription and since it starts in a few months I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up the most recent issue of the magazine and wrapped it along with a note about the subscription. See if you can find a copy locally.

Lots of great suggestions! Mine is that you get bonus points if you throw in a small, soft, squishy, cuddly and adorable stuffed animal.

Thanks

My daughter is 8. Popular amongst her friends are flip sequins (shirts, pillows, etc.), emoji themed items like pillows and backpack charms, fun socks, hooded pj blanket sleepers for lounging, and squishees as far as the eye can see.

books:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0448095017/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I12UTX60FND3UH&colid=154DPKRFOTVT0&psc=0
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0440406943/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IOTTJOQ6B3U8X&colid=154DPKRFOTVT0&psc=0
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0312367554/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2VTQSSY8REK68&colid=154DPKRFOTVT0&psc=0
https://www.amazon.com/Pegasus-Winged-Collection-Books-1-3/dp/1481457713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513798296&sr=8-1&keywords=pegasus+books

crafts:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075WW7N1P/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=IKFPTQW3F977X&colid=154DPKRFOTVT0&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYR0DU7/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2XGJIK6ZL24KD&colid=154DPKRFOTVT0&psc=0

Barnes and Noble sell a lot of arts and crafts kits for girls this age, bracelet weaving, charm making kits as well as pottery painting, and so on. You might want to try an art shop if you have one close by as they tend to have even better things and can make suggestions based on what people have been buying for that age group.

She is my niece. I'd love to give an experience gift but unfortunately, my schedule is not at all conducive to that right now and she's pretty busy herself,

She likes arts and crafts
reading
animals and science
singing.

Last year I got her a magazine subscription that she loves. I will likely renew that, but I want something she can open the day off.