This is a brilliant list.
I'd switch StarCraft and Flower, assuming they have to play the games in the order listed, but otherwise, this list would likely be mine as well.

Shit I forgot about Portal!

This throws things ALL out of whack

Well the order was mostly SMB3 first and SotC last.  I couldn't really decide how I wanted to order the middle ones.

GTA 4
GT5
Wii Sports
LBP
Mario Galaxy

Understandable, I was thinking aloud if anything .
Great list either way.

Oh, flower is an excellent choice.

I' m sooo tempted to get a Wii for galaxy.

Animal Crossing: Everyone needs at least one game from this series. Very relaxing.

Halo: Very simple first-person shooter that has a ton of depth. My female cousin who plays few other games is obsessed with Halo. Easy to get into intense action where your failures are tactical errors, not control-based ones.

Kingdom Hearts: RPGs can be a little daunting to get into, so why not let them do it alongside characters they know and love? Also a great place to show how games can have emotional stories.

Mario Galaxy: Everyone needs to play a Mario game, and this is quite simply the best one ever made.

Mario Kart: Just cuz it's awesome

Metal Gear Solid PS1 -- how a game can be as artistic as a film.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time -- I haven't given pops to Nintendo in a few days and I still plan to get a Wii and DS.

ICO -- To show how videogames can be as artistic as a work in any media.

Dragon's Lair Arcade -- A Living Cartoon Fantasy.

Halo: Combat Evolved -- The first great console first-person shooter.

 Goldeneye begs to differ .  Still a fantastic entry point for shooters, though.