I started reading the books because so many parents were all flipped out about it. You know, magic, wizards, teaching your kids to do witchcraft....blah blah blah. My son was at the age the first book was targeted to, so I thought I should read it first. It was great, nothing evil or bad about it, just a great story.
Of course, some people were appalled that I read the book AND gave it to my oldest son. I pointed out that my son was more than capable of telling fantasy from reality. Even if he wasn't, the first time he pointed a stick at me and tried to cast a spell and it didn't work, after I got done whopping his butt, he would know that magic isn't possible.