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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2019
Apr. 30, 2018
Apr. 30, 2017
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]      
Cost of sales [1] $ 554,722 $ 531,024 [2] $ 500,794 [2]
Operating and administrative expenses [1],[2] 963,582 956,822 943,242
Book Overdrafts [Abstract]      
Book overdrafts 7,400 13,100  
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract]      
Allowance for doubtful accounts 14,300 10,100  
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract]      
Decrease in net assets (18,542) (18,628)  
Inventories [Abstract]      
LIFO inventories 21,000 24,000  
Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence [Abstract]      
Inventory obsolescence reserve 15,800 18,200  
Advertising Expense [Abstract]      
Advertising costs 89,500 68,300 61,400
Foreign Currency Gains/Losses [Abstract]      
Foreign currency translation losses 60,500    
Shipping and Handling [Member]      
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]      
Cost of sales 32,700 33,700 39,100
Operating and administrative expenses 32,700 33,700 39,100
Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence [Abstract]      
Inventory obsolescence reserve 15,800 18,200  
Accounts Receivable, Net [Member]      
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract]      
Decrease in net assets [3] 0 (28,302)  
Inventories, Net [Member]      
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract]      
Decrease in net assets 3,739 4,626  
Accrued Royalties [Member]      
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract]      
Decrease in net assets (3,653) (5,048)  
Contract Liability (Deferred Revenue) [Member]      
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract]      
Decrease in net assets [3] 25,934 0  
Cost of Sales [Member]      
Advertising Expense [Abstract]      
Advertising costs 53,700 38,300 32,400
Operating and Admin Expenses [Member]      
Advertising Expense [Abstract]      
Advertising costs $ 35,800 30,000 29,000
Computer Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 3 years    
Computer Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 10 years    
Computer Hardware [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 3 years    
Computer Hardware [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 5 years    
Building and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 40 years    
Furniture, Fixtures and Warehouse Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 5 years    
Furniture, Fixtures and Warehouse Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 10 years    
Enterprise Resource Planning and Related Systems [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 10 years    
Book Composition Costs [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 1 year    
Book Composition Costs [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 3 years    
Other Product Development Costs [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 5 years    
Software Development [Member] | Minimum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 3 years    
Software Development [Member] | Maximum [Member]      
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 5 years    
Content and Publishing Rights [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]      
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 34 years    
Trademarks [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]      
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 16 years    
Customer Relationships [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]      
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 18 years    
Brands [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]      
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 16 years    
Non-compete Agreements [Member] | Weighted Average [Member]      
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract]      
Estimated useful life 3 years    
Performance-based Stock Awards [Member]      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Abstract]      
Target period for stock-based compensation expense in advance of actual financial results 3 years    
Change in Accounting Policy for Certain Advertising and Marketing Costs [Member] | The Learning House, Inc. [Member]      
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]      
Cost of sales   45,800 40,000
Operating and administrative expenses   $ (45,800) $ (40,000)
[1] In connection with the acquisition of The Learning House, Inc. ("Learning House"), we changed our accounting policy for certain advertising and marketing costs incurred by our Education Services business to fulfill performance obligations from contracts with educational institutions. Under the new accounting policy, these costs are included in Cost of Sales whereas they were previously included in Operating and Administrative Expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Including these expenses in Cost of Sales will better align these costs with the related revenue and conform with the presentation of such costs for Learning House. This change in accounting policy was applied retrospectively. The Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended April 30, 2018, and 2017 have been reclassified to reflect this change in accounting policy. The impact of this reclassification was an increase to Cost of Sales and a corresponding decrease to Operating and Administrative Expenses of $45.8 million and $40.0 million for the years ended April 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively. This reclassification had no impact on Revenue, net, Operating Income, Net Income, or Earnings per Share. Refer to "Change in Accounting Policy" in Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued, and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards," for more information on the accounting policy change and Note 4, "Acquisition," in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information related to the acquisition of Learning House.
[2] Due to the retrospective adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-07, "Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,", total net benefits (costs) of $8.1 million and $(5.3) million related to the non-service components of defined benefit and other post-employment benefit plans were reclassified from Operating and Administrative Expenses to Interest and Other Income (Expense) for the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total net benefits (costs) related to the non-service components of defined benefit and other post-employment benefit plans were $8.8 million for the year ended April 30, 2019. Refer to Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued, and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
[3] Due to the adoption of the new revenue standard, See Note 3, Revenue from Contracts with Customers the sales return reserve as of April 30, 2019 of $25.9 million is recorded in Contract Liability (Deferred Revenue). In prior periods, the sales return reserve of $28.3 million was recorded as a reduction to Accounts Receivable, net on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.