Whink

Though it has some nice elements and its simple, streamlined interface is low on distractions, Whink is missing some features that other note-taking apps offer for free. The reading mode is especially minimalist, which will help kids stay focused. It's also excellent that you can toggle the writing tools for right-handed or left-handed writers and drag a palm rest on-screen. Though it isn't always intuitive to figure out how things work, shorts taps and long presses unlock more tools for grouping your notes and adding tags and notes. Some features are absent, though. For example, you can't import PDF documents from within the app: Instead, you'll have to use the "Open in" pop-up menu in another app to select Whink, which isn't hard, but it's another step. Two features -- adding audio and drawing shapes -- are only available after an additional $2.99 in-app purchase, but comparable tools such as Notability and Evernote include that feature in the basic download. It's also not entirely clear how to search for tagged documents. Though it's attractive and effective, more features for collaboration, importing, and sharing would make it even better.