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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Apr. 30, 2017 | Apr. 30, 2016 | Apr. 30, 2015
Book Overdrafts [Abstract] |  |  |
Book overdrafts | $ 17,600 | $ 17,800 |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract] |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | 7,200 | 7,300 |
Inventories [Abstract] |  |  |
LIFO inventories | 31,500 | 31,000 |
Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence [Abstract] |  |  |
Inventory obsolescence reserve | 21,100 | 22,000 |
Shipping and Handling Costs [Abstract] |  |  |
Shipping and handling costs | 39,100 | 40,500 | $ 42,500
Advertising Expense [Abstract] |  |  |
Advertising costs | 61,400 | 54,100 | $ 40,800
Foreign Currency Gains/Losses [Abstract] |  |  |
Foreign currency translation losses | 51,300 |  |
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | (24,300) | (19,861) |
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] | Accounts Receivable [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | (34,769) | (29,447) |
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] | Inventories [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | 4,727 | 4,924 |
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] | Accounts and Royalties Payable [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | $ (5,741) | $ (4,662) |
Book Composition Costs [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 1 year |  |
Book Composition Costs [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 3 years |  |
Other Product Development Costs [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Building and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 40 years |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Warehouse Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 3 years |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Warehouse Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 10 years |  |
Computer Software [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 3 years |  |
Computer Software [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 10 years |  |
Computer Hardware [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 3 years |  |
Computer Hardware [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Software Development [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 3 years |  |
Software Development [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 6 years |  |
Enterprise Resource Planning and Related Systems [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 10 years |  |
Content and Publishing Rights [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Content and Publishing Rights [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 40 years |  |
Content and Publishing Rights [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 31 years |  |
Trademarks [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Trademarks [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 40 years |  |
Trademarks [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 15 years |  |
Customer Relationships [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Customer Relationships [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 40 years |  |
Customer Relationships [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 20 years |  |
Brands [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Brands [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 40 years |  |
Brands [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 15 years |  |
Non-compete Agreements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Non-compete Agreements [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 5 years |  |
Performance-based Stock Awards [Member] |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |
Target period for stock-based compensation expense in advance of actual financial results | 3 years |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 [Member] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Net benefit income expected to be reclassified from operating income to a line item below operating income | $ (2,800) |  |

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