ISO A lost childhood book...

I have been looking for a book from my childhood for years now, but unfortunately I don't remember many relevant details...

things I'm 100% sure about:

on the last page/dust cover/inside the back cover the hero rides off in the distance leaving the message "by hook or by crook, you'll get lost in this book"

it's an illustrated book

many classic but minor fairytale tale characters are included (the woman who lives in a shoe for sure)

plot I'm NOT sure about:

the hero embarks on a simple journey, interacting with each of the fairytale characters, helping them along the way

I think has cute prose/rhyme scheme...

Just hoping someone out there recognizes the book... I'd love to read it again