I was thinking about this book only the other day.  It is called ‘The Adventures of the Little Wooden Horse’ As to how I first heard of the book,  It is actually a children’s book, and I think it must have been chosen for me by my parents. The story was so very sad! The horse in the title was a toy horse originally supposed to be sold by his maker. The little wooden horse is very loyal and wants only to stay with his Uncle Peder who crafted him. However, sadly the toymaker is forced out of business as mass-produced toys become available, and the little wooden horse sets out to try and make his fortune so the two of them can stay together. Terrible things happen to the horse, he is sometimes lonely and unhappy. Eventually, he does make his fortune and returns home only to find the toymaker has vanished! It is heart-breaking. In the end, the little wooden horse and the toymaker are reunited by chance and there is, at last, a happy ending after a harrowing set of adventures.
The reason this book is important to me is that it is the first book I remember really wanting to read for myself.