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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Apr. 30, 2018 | Apr. 30, 2017 | Apr. 30, 2016
Book Overdrafts [Abstract] |  |  |
Book overdrafts | $ 13,100 | $ 17,600 |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract] |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | 10,100 | 7,200 |
Inventories [Abstract] |  |  |
LIFO inventories | 24,000 | 31,500 |
Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence [Abstract] |  |  |
Inventory obsolescence reserve | 18,200 | 21,100 |
Shipping and Handling Costs [Abstract] |  |  |
Shipping and handling costs | 33,700 | 39,100 | $ 40,500
Advertising Expense [Abstract] |  |  |
Advertising costs | 68,300 | $ 61,400 | $ 54,100
Foreign Currency Gains/Losses [Abstract] |  |  |
Foreign currency translation gains | $ 67,600 |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase in diluted shares outstanding (in shares) | 845 | 862 | 736
Excess tax benefits recorded in operating activities | $ 0 | $ (414) | $ (1,027)
Excess tax benefits recorded in financing activities | 0 | 414 | $ 1,027
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | (18,628) | (24,300) |
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] | Accounts Receivable [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | (28,302) | (34,769) |
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] | Inventories [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | 4,626 | 4,727 |
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member] | Royalties Payable [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase (Decrease) in net assets | $ (5,048) | (5,741) |
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 | 6 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 |  |
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 |  |
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 | 2 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 | 30 years |  |
Trademarks [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated useful life | 2 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 | 2 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 | 2 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 2014-09 [Member] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Amounts netted down from accounts receivable and deferred revenue | $ 59,500 |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 [Member] | Prepaid and Other Current Assets [Member] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Deferred tax assets, current |  | 800 |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Excess income tax benefits from stock-based compensation | 1,600 |  |
Excess tax benefits recorded in operating activities | $ 0 |  |
Excess tax benefits recorded in financing activities |  | 400 |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Increase in diluted shares outstanding (in shares) | 100 |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 Member] | Plan [Member] |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Net charges expected to be reclassified from operating income to a line item below operating income | $ 8,100 | $ 5,300 |

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