Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014	Apr. 30, 2013
Reclassifications [Line Items]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 8,300	$ 7,900
Net Sales Return Reserves by Balance Sheet Location [Abstract]
Net sales return reserves	(25,340)	(28,633)
LIFO inventories	35,700	41,300
Inventory obsolescence reserve	21,900	25,100
Shipping and handling costs	42,500	42,200	$ 46,000
Advertising costs	40,800	35,200	$ 29,200
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation gains (losses)	$ (180,200)
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Actual financial results in advance for targets established for share based compensation expense	3 years
Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Abstract]
Debt issuance costs	$ 1,400
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Net Sales Return Reserves by Balance Sheet Location [Abstract]
Net sales return reserves	(37,300)	(41,102)
Inventories [Member]
Net Sales Return Reserves by Balance Sheet Location [Abstract]
Net sales return reserves	6,555	6,774
Accounts and Royalties Payable [Member]
Net Sales Return Reserves by Balance Sheet Location [Abstract]
Net sales return reserves	(5,405)	(5,695)
From Accounts Receivable to Accounts and Royalties Payable [Member]
Reclassifications [Line Items]
Book overdrafts	$ 16,100	$ 22,800
Minimum [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest accounted using equity method of accounting (in hundredths)	20.00%
Product Development [Abstract]
Estimated useful life of composition costs	1 year
Maximum [Member]
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest accounted using cost method of accounting (in hundredths)	20.00%
Product Development [Abstract]
Estimated useful life of composition costs	3 years
Building and Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	40 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	3 years
Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	10 years
Computer Hardware and Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	3 years
Computer Hardware and Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	10 years
Software Development [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	3 years
Software Development [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life	6 years
Content and publication rights, trademarks, customer relationships and brands [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, average	5 years
Content and publication rights, trademarks, customer relationships and brands [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, average	40 years
Content and Publishing Rights [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, average	32 years
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, average	19 years
Brands and Trademarks [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, average	11 years
Covenants not to Compete [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life, average	5 years