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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)